What's Left Behind

Today is a day where I remember where I was twelve years ago. Anniversaries have a way of doing that. The difference is, this is the anniversary of the death of someone I never met. On television, I had watched him every time his team was playing. A few times, I was in the same building watching as he yelled instructions from the sidelines, drew up plays on a whiteboard, and paced the area in front of the bench. Twelve years ago, I checked into my hotel room, longing to fall asleep after a long day, turned on the television and heard the breaking news. Skip Prosser, Head Men's Basketball coach at Wake Forest, had passed away.

For those who know me, Wake Forest is a part of my heart. That night, though exhausted, I stayed awake to watch the coverage. I listened to players talk about the coach they loved, the coach who had provided fans with some of their most memorable moments. You expect that. The hurt was still fresh. The shock of what had happened was present. The images of what had been was still fresh in their minds.

Eleven years later, I built a proposal for a Wake Forest devotional book and my agent presented the idea to a publisher. They accepted it. So, I began to conduct interviews with former players, a thrill for me and an opportunity to learn a lesson from the stories they shared. Former players like Kyle Visser, Taron Downey, and others shared memories of a man who had made an impact on their lives. More than eleven years after his death, they shared the words he spoke that they would never forget. Stan Cotten shared his memories and without a doubt, Coach Prosser had left a mark on so many.

When we think about life, we think about what we have to do in a day. We think about the obligations and the necessities, but do we think about what we can do in a day? Every day is an opportunity to make an impact, to leave a mark on someone's life, to build a legacy that will live on long after we have drawn our last breath on this earth. Here is something that I read in Scripture that made me think about what legacy I may be leaving behind. In Hebrews, we read, "Don't neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices." (Hebrews 13:16) Looking at the words, it seems simple enough, but what gets in the way is the word "sacrifices".

It's easy to do what is good for ourselves. But every day, we face endless opportunities to set aside ourselves and do for someone else, to sacrifice of our time, of our knowledge, of our attention, and in doing so, make a lasting impact, a legacy, that time will never wipe away. The only way to make sure a mark is left is to pour all we have into others around us, knowing that God can use those moments, those words, and those interactions to alter the lives of those we touch. Today may be our last. It may not be. But it is a chance to leave a mark so that when that day comes, what is left behind is bigger and more impactful than what we could ever imagine.

Twelve years ago today, a basketball coach passed away. But he was more than a coach. We have the chance to leave just as big of an impact when we use our time, talent, and resources to touch the lives we come into contact with for the glory of God.