Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 152 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

9 Principles for Creating a Legacy

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 152 of our Trek, and yesterday we explored the 7 steps for a successful life. Today we will continue on the same trail and look at 9 related principles for a lasting legacy. If you miss any days of our Wisdom-Trek, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This episode is scheduled to air on Friday when Paula and I will be making last minute preparations for our podcasting cruise. On the day I am creating this journal and podcast, it is my Dad’s 85th birthday, which we will celebrate tomorrow.  Three of my siblings as well as our three oldest children were able to make it in for the celebration. We enjoyed the time with them and their families, but it was particularly special for the grandchildren as this is the first time that all six of them were together. It is a blessing for Granny and Gramps, and of course, pictures of Dad and our grandkids are in today’s journal posting.

 

As we get focused on our Trek today, we realize that each day on our trek of life can be challenging and full of unexpected detours and obstacles. While some days will be sunny and bright and give us the feeling that we can literally conquer mountains, there will be other days that are cloudy when the cold wind and rain blow against us to the point that it is difficult to move forward. If we anticipate and prepare for both the sunny and rainy days regardless of what we are facing on a particular day, we will keep in mind our ultimate destination and keep moving forward. Today’s trail is an extension of what we discovered on yesterday’s Trek but from a slightly different perspective. We will put our power of observation to the test once again and look for the 9 sign posts that will help us to be creating and living our legacy each day.

This Is How You Create and Live a Legacy Daily

As your guide and mentor on our daily wisdom-trek, I am a bit of a philosopher and also love principles. Yes, actions are great, and I talk about them regularly. But, the important stuff is what lies underneath are the principles or precepts – the very foundation from which our actions grow.

These are the principles we must commit to in order to create and live the legacy we desire.

Life is best lived in service to others.

This doesn’t mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers, and friends. We should practice what has been called "Servant-Leadership" as described in Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.'” 

Consider others’ interests as important as your own.

Much of the world suffers simply because people consider only their own interests. People are looking out for number one, but the way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others.

Love your neighbor even if you don’t like him.

It is interesting that Jesus told us to love others. But he never tells us to like them.