Lesson Learned

I haven't posted in a while. I actually hadn't planned on doing any more postings. I was spending too much time researching how to blog and trying to promote the blog. I wasn't working on my novel. I wasn't doing much of anything except trying to get the blog up and running. I decided to take a hiatus. Then something else happened. My grandfather died and I got caught up in doing some soul searching about the things that are really important in my life.

My grandfather's funeral had a huge impact on me. I learned that the church the funeral mass was held in was designed by him and the land donated by his father. I grew up in a nearby city, but we always went to that church for Christmas Mass. All the times I had been there I never knew that my grandfather had designed it. If it weren't for my family the church and the attaching school would not be there. I found it strange that no one in my family mentioned this to the grandchildren. Imagine not taking credit for a place given to the people so that they could worship, get baptised, and get married.

I also learned that my grandfather taught celestial navigation. I think of all the times I had gone to my grandfather's cabin in northern Michigan and looked out upon clear night skies and never knew that he could have taught me about the stars.

I had to learn about both of these things by reading the obituary. I wish I had had a chance to learn about them from my grandfather. I observed pictures of his life and witnessed many, many people come to pay their respects. I've been to a few funerals in my time, but I can't recall one as large as this. He must have been an amazing man. I tried remembering all I knew about him. I recall that we grandchildren were always kept in line by being told, "You don't want grandpa getting mad." It was enough to put us in line. Looking back on those days, I honestly can't recall seeing my grandfather angry or hearing him raise his voice. I don't know if any of the grandchildren had any tangible reason to believe that we really didn't want grandpa getting mad, but we all did. He had an air of authority that even the most naive child understood. How? I don't know or I would certainly use it with my students. Maybe its an earned authority you only get after you've raised eight children. Maybe he learned it in the military.

I observed the hole he left in the lives of many people. I may not know much about my grandfather, but I can see the lasting impression he will have and I can recognize a few amazing things.

First, he had eight children. All of them still lived near him and all of them were there for him during the roughest final months. Few families can still stay that close these days, even fewer are so dedicated to each other that they can take as much time from their own lives to see that their father was cared for during his final days. This is as much a testament to him as it is to the solid and loving relationship he maintained for sixty years.

Second, he had such an abundance of grandchildren that all of his pallbearers were grandsons by blood. On top of this he had more grandchildren in attendance. These same grandchildren had gotten together just days before he died to take a picture showing the very large family including great-grandchildren. Nearly sixty people were in the photo, all were lives directly touched by him.

Third, as I said before the church that hosted his funeral mass was designed by him. Long after I am gone from this world people will still worship in the church designed by him. I think most people would consider themselves fortunate if they can touch one life beyond their own. My grandfather has eight children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren that will remember him. Someday perhaps those great-children will marry in the church he designed and yet another generation will be in some way touched by his life. How is that for a legacy?

Here is the lesson I learned: a legacy is all that we can leave behind. It is the final testament that we existed and mattered on this earth. Each of us has a purpose in this life, but not everyone of us recognizes that purpose. Those that recognize their purpose and choose to live for that purpose usually leave the longest lasting legacies.

Have you discovered your purpose in life? What will be your legacy?