A female bystander noticed the topic and invited herself to start a conversation about what happens when you die. My friend simply stated "rot in a grave". The girl, clearly not pleased with his response continued "Do you think, if that's the case, that what you do here is all for nothing?" I decided to offer my two cents on the matter:
Of course, what you do here may account to nothing, but it is up to us to forge our own legacy to leave behind for others to remember us. Consider the following questions:
- Who was President of the United States during its great civil war and abolished slavery?
- Who was one of the first men to walk on the moon?
- Who is the man claimed to have risen from the dead?
- Who commanded the Nazi army in WWII?
- Who was the french girl who inspired the french to revolt against the British?
If you can answer any of these questions, I ask you, why? What is more interesting is what is shared between them. All of these people, Abe Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, Jesus of Nazareth, Adolf Hitler, Joan of Arc, have died, yet their names have not been forgotten. They are still spoken of to this day!
History will remember those who have left their mark on civilisation, for better or for worse. The people around us, our families, friends, will remember us for what we have achieved in life. Keep in mind that the greatest legacy is to continue one's family name.
If you were to die tomorrow, would you be content with what you have left for others as your legacy? If so, are you still afraid of what is to come after death?
