I’ve never been a huge Prince fan. I don’t dislike him, but I’ve never really followed him closely. His untimely passing has left the entire world with a collective gasp, and I am blown away by the number of people who have been deeply impacted by the artistry of this man’s music. For several days I’ve been hearing a number of people talking, remembering, and discussing the legacy that Prince’s music left on them personally. It is almost as if to say that this man impacted their lives or, at the very least, that his music was the soundtrack to their own narratives.

Since coming to Centerville UMC in November 2014, I have been a part of seventeen funerals, seventeen moments when we celebrated the life and legacy of people who were loved by many. There is always a moment in the funeral that feels a little surreal to me. It is a moment when we talk about the legacy left behind by the deceased. And we determine that legacy based upon the stories told about that person’s life. I’m sure you’ve heard them before….

-       They loved to entertain….

-       They loved to be with family….

-       They were gifted in business…

-       They were incredibly faithful…

The more I do this, the more I realize that there is no difference between someone like Prince, and someone like me; at the end of our lives it all comes down to passion.

Prince is remembered for his music because he was passionate about making great music. And each of us has something we are passionate about. It may not be as glamorous as a best-selling musician, but nevertheless, when someone talks about you when you are no longer here, they will talk about what made you ‘tick.’ They will talk about your passions. After seventeen celebrations of life, I can say this with 100% certainty.

None of us will get to write what our legacy looks like. Legacies are written by those who are left.

What we do get to pick a re our passions. Every day you get to live out your passions, and whatever platform God gives you will reflect those very same passions. And, when your friends and family gather around to remember the life you lived, they will talk about what you loved. They will talk about what you were passionate about.

So, are the passions you’re living what you want your legacy to be?