What’s in Your Obituary?

“A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian, and most of all, his family should know.” -Dwight L. Moody

“D.L. Moody is Dead”

“Some day you will read in the newspaper that D. L. Moody of East Northfield, Massachusetts is dead.  Don’t you believe a word of it.  At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now.”

Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899) is remembered as one of the greatest evangelists of 19th century. Though poorly educated he was a tireless worker, a devoted disciple of Jesus, and a visionary leader. His name lives on through the Moody Bible Institute based in Chicago, Illinois. And, at this moment, D.L. Moody is more alive than he ever was before. Believe it.

Alfred Nobel, “The Merchant of Death is Dead”

“Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.” -from a premature obituary

Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), a Swedish engineer, held 355 patents, most notably for dynamite. Alfred was a pacifist, and was quoted,

“My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions. As soon as men will find that in one instant, whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they surely will abide by golden peace.”

Though there is some truth to Alfred’s credulous statement, subsequent history attests he was for the most part sadly mistaken. When his brother Ludwig died in 1888, a French newspaper mistakenly printed Alfred’s obituary, including the condemnation, “The merchant of death is dead.” Horrified by this perception of his legacy, he left his great wealth in a trust to fund the Nobel Prizes.

What is Your Legacy?

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”
-St. John Paul II

My friend Harold and I are in the midst of a 30 day online men’s retreat called Rise. Daily videos and challenges encourage and build up men to become better sons, husbands, fathers, friends. Here is a recent challenge:

It might sound a bit dark, but write your own ideal obituary today. Does the trajectory your life is on right now fulfill what you’ve written? If not, what can you do today to start living the life you’re called to live? 

Here, then, is my effort:

Nick J. Guevara, Jr. Beloved of God, husband, father, friend, catechist, youth baseball coach, amateur historian, U.S. Navy veteran, hospitality and postal worker. Loves Jesus, the Catholic Church, America, and his family, with whom he traveled to forty-five states and visited dozens of National Parks, religious, natural, and historic sites. Enjoyed researching the lives and faith journeys of his Guevara and Grayson predecessors in gratitude for their legacy of sacrifice and love. May it please God that Nick now be united with those ancestors in the fullness of glory, and that those he loves recognize and embrace the truth of the Gospel that they too may join him there.

And now it’s your turn. Write your obituary. Share it with your spouse or your best friend, or if you feel led, share it with us. And then reflect: “Does the trajectory your life is on right now fulfill what you’ve written? What can you do today to start living the life you’re called to live? ”