The people of long ago are not remembered…

By Lisa Lickle

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The people of long ago are not remembered… (vs. 11)

 

Walking through cemeteries is a favorite pastime of mine. As a historian, the gravestones call out to me, telling the story of who once breathed and walked and then died in this place. Sometimes the stories are poignant--drownings or illness taking whole families. I’m amused by the woman surrounded by her several husbands. Sometimes there’s an infant or elderly people who made their way across the sea to start a new life in a new place at an advanced age.

 

The care of these graves tell a story, too: who is left to remember? Are there flowers, bushes, flags, toys? Is the marker in good shape or faded and crumbling, maybe sunken or fallen? The people of long ago… I carry my thoughts on to who will remember me. What legacy will I leave? Even if there is truly nothing new under the sun, surely there is something precious to leave behind. Micah 6:8 teaches that God’s requirements are that we should act with justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. I want to be remembered for being that kind of person.

Things I can do:

Pick up that piece of garbage

Give a quarter at the checkout lane when the person in front of me is short

Let the other car in

Give the memories of my grandparents to my children

Take the single parent neighbor kids to church and shopping for Mother’s Day

Thank you, Father, for all those who walked before me, setting the example. Amen.

 

photo courtesy of WIGen.com, Larry and Linda Kopet

Go Undercover

By Lori Boruff

    Undercover Boss is a favorite Sunday night program. A recent show inspired this little blog adventure.

    Featured boss of BELFOR, the world's largest disaster restoration company, was emotionally moved by four employees during his week undercover. According to the story, boss Sheldon Yellen and his three brothers were raised by a mother on welfare. His father was in and out of the home. Mother was the glue keeping her boys together.

    Yellen rose from rags to riches becoming President and CEO of BELFOR. He trades in his Italian suit for a uniform and begins working with the common man.

    He encounters:

• A contractor whose business suffered from tough economic times. He now works several jobs to recover his losses.
• Brenda, who shares being raised with nothing while living in a railroad car. She struggles to advance in the company because she cannot read.
• Another young man with his master’s degree in marketing cannot find work and takes this job to pay off student debt.
• Jen, who also struggles to make ends meet even before BELFOR carried out a wage freeze.

    After a life-changing week undercover and through humble tears, Yellen offers those dedicated employees promotions, vacations and financial rewards to ease their hardships. I cried through most of the program.

    But what really moved those workers to tears? They knew someone noticed. They felt significant.

    "That never happened before," expressed a grateful employee.

   Who in your world needs to be noticed? Who has never felt significant in their life? Who needs to know someone cares?

    Will you let God go undercover through you? Will you see the worn out waitress, cashier, delivery person or overwhelmed mom who longs to be noticed?

    By a simple act of kindness, conversation, time or finances – who will come to know that God Sees?

But from heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;

from His dwelling place He watches all mankind.

 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him,

on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.

 Psalm 33:13-14, 18-19 (NRSV)

It's how you treat a stranger that draws God's notice and his blessing.

Be Blessed,
Lori Boruff
309-582-7685

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