MY EPITAPH – “Then my living shall not be in vain”
I have been thinking recently about the challenge to write my epitaph. I’m sure that others would take solace in such a privilege. This impulse has been sparked by Senator Burris’ (Illinois’ controversial senator) compulsion with designing his own mausoleum. I thought this might not be such a bad idea. If you had to write your own epitaph, what would it be?
It was a cold winter’s day that Sunday. The car park to the church was filling up quickly.
I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost lying down as if he was asleep.
He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face.
He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.
We all gathered for fellowship for a few minutes, and someone raised the issue of the man lying outside.
People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the minister to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.
In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces.
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank.
There stood our minister. He was the “homeless man.”
No one said a word.
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the lectern.
“Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.”
Then he started singing the words to this song:
“If I can help somebody as I pass along.
If I can cheer somebody with word or song.
If I can show somebody that he’s traveling wrong.
Then my living shall not be in vain.”
I have concluded that my epitaph is the refrain of the song that Mahalia Jackson made famous:
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he is trav’ling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
QUESTION: If you had to write your epitaph, what would it be?
February 21st, 2009 at 1:23 pm
This is a test!
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:21 am
I thought about writing my eulogy but this is new so I’ll take a ’shot’ at it:
“God loved me! I hope you felt it.”
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
we worry so much of what the date of our glorification will be. spend millions on medicines, exercises, etc when what matters is our hyphen between our birth date and graduation date to heaven. our hyphen lives our epitath. good words.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am
AMEN!
February 24th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Oliver…After reading, I thought about this over the weekend. I would not use words but a picture…a butterfly ascending from a heart.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:22 am
i feel that it is important for us a Christians we should support all people from all walks of life.A homeless person or a rich person.The way is to serve in a Godlike manner and be compassionate toward fellow men.recently i helped a woman who was homeless from Lousisana. I gave her info to a mission house and the phone number.Its just what Christ did,helping humanity to find God and understand why he put us on earth.
March 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Mine would be that Jesus Christ shows up in different times in our lives, like Christmas he knocked 3 times and the door was opened but no one was there and when he questioned it; God spoke and said he was the 3 times he knocked and 3 times the door was open.
March 13th, 2009 at 4:10 am
There was no need for a sermon. the message was clear and effective. I thaught suppose it was Jesus.
March 15th, 2009 at 2:58 am
I thought your story profound and it certainly made me think of my epitath, “She did good and had fun”. I believe that Christ came so that we can have life, and have it more abundantly. I spend my time living an abundant life and trying to help as many people as I can to do the same. My epitath (and I think of it often) makes it kinda difficult to walk past people who are suffering - which I believe was the moral of your story. Thanks for sharing. Made my day!
March 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Sharron — Thanks for reading my blog. I will continue to provide provocative and insightful conversations.
March 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Betty — I am interested in your expanding the thought of “knocking three times.”
May 1st, 2009 at 8:56 am
[...] Think on These Things» Blog Archive » What Would Your Epitaph Be? [...]
May 24th, 2009 at 7:10 am
hmmm…,
could be interesting
I was thinkin about this topic
thanks for the post.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Hi, interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for blogging. I will probably be coming back to your site. Keep up the good work
April 11th, 2010 at 7:48 am
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