Q9: More Death
Question: What would you most like people to remember you for after you die? What would you like written on your tombstone?
Shortly after entering my undergrad, I did something I thought I would never do: I ordered something off of late night television. It was a dual CD collection called "Classic Country: Great Story Songs." I have to say, I felt very wary as I repeated my credit card number over the phone, listening to the strangely distant women on the other end of the line assure me that I would have my CD's very soon.
On the album were such old-time hits as BJ the DJ, Big Bad John, and Ballad of the Green Berets. I greatly enjoyed that album, being exposed for the first time to this music and lyric both creative and interesting. Most of all I just like songs that have a story (more recently, I got free tickets to a concert featuring Mark Schultz. I didn't really know much about him, but he started his set with the song "Walking Her Home," which is a story song. That was all it took; I became a fan). Anyway, though I enjoyed the album a lot, I remember talking to my Mom about it and telling her that there was one thing I noticed: Almost all of the songs feature death, and a lot of it. This, of course, is why I bring up this story. I am enjoying doing these questions, but as I come to question 9 and face death for the third time... well, lets just say I feel like I did as I listened to that album.
On to the question. I think I would want my tombstone to say this:
Andrew James Demoline
Nov. 10 1982 - Nov. 10 2082
God's
He lived in faith, hope, and love
and these he leaves behind
in the lives of those who knew him.
And that is also what I would like to be remembered for: for being the Lord's man, and for living the life he has laid out for me. I have to say, however, that I war against my pride in this. I would love to be remembered as a 'great'. A great writer, a great speaker, a great leader, etc. The idea of leaving my mark upon the world pulls at me a great deal. However, in the end, what I want more than anything is to leave Christ's mark on the world. I say that as the 'right' answer, because it is. I also say it as the 'true' answer, not because I can say that 100% of me is always in that place, but because that is my goal.
p.s. definitely the strangest feeling at the end of a post right now.
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