Rev. George Miller
June 19, 2022
1 Kings 2:10-25
How exciting- here we are celebrating not 1 but 2 special days. JUNETEENTH, when all enslaved people were
truly, finally all set free! Liberty!
And Father’s Day, honoring the men in our lives, knowing that being a Dad
ain’t always easy.
To reflect upon these holidays, we spend time with the 1st
Family of Israel, the dynasty selected by God to keep the commandments, unify
the land and focus on the ways of Heaven.
Ya’ll know this 1st Family- King David, who defeated Goliath, soothed the
soul of Saul, snatched the Ark from enemy hands, brought the 10 Commandments into
the heart of the nation.
Surely King David must’ve done great things. Surely, he must’ve made sure the widows were
cared for, the people rested on the Sabbath, and he never ever told a lie.
Surely the 1st Family of Israel was morally grounded,
ethically fair and left a legacy of praise and worship.
But, none of this is true. Before King David’s body can even decompose, his
sons battle for who gets their dead Dad’s concubine.
We have one of David’s 8 wives either be played as a pawn…or be the
ultimate Chess player.
His spiritual advisor devises a plan to change the transfer of political
power.
There’s a dispute over who is the nation’s next leader- the one who
publicly proclaims he won, or the one who was granted leadership.
We think we’d hear a story about justice, kindness, and humility when it
comes to the 1st Family of God; instead we get sex, deceit, deadly
take-over, and everybody jockeying for power.
Oh how far we have gone from the Garden of Eden; how far yet to go to embody
the Good News.
Today we deal with LEGACY. What is
it we hope to leave behind after our time on Earth has come to an end?
David and his 1st Family of Chaos help us discern what Legacy
can look like.
First the good- King David was able to unite a divided nation and move
the Ark of The Covenant to a secure place.
He made Jerusalem the center of Israel’s political, spiritual life. He defeated their enemies making sure the
nation could spend the next few decades in a state of safety and calm.
David had insight into human nature, understanding how relations between
other nations could benefit all.
The not so good. King David
cemented these relationships by taking numerous wives and concubines from these
territories, creating a fractured family system that often abused each other.
King David killed without a conscience- didn’t matter if you were a giant
or a trustworthy general.
Third, he may have rescued the 10 Commandments, but he rarely followed
them, especially the ones about coveting, adultery, and murder.
When King David grew old, as he lay dying, his children, his advisor, his
wife all displayed what kind of legacy he had left behind- protect yourself at
all costs above anyone and anything.
Not love God, love neighbor. Not
care for the widow; mind the orphan.
The legacy David left behind was “Get mine so you can’t get yours.”
Any wonder the world can seem so messed up? Any wonder why Jesus Christ, as Messiah would
emerge centuries later?
Legacy. That’s the word that’s
been on my mind the past week.
This month of PRIDE has been the legacy of Stonewall and those who fought
back against LGBTQ injustice.
Sunday was the legacy of Philippines with its spirit of diversity and
liberty.
Today, Juneteenth is when the last of the enslaved people in Texas were
set free.
Today is also Father’s Day. Just
like Moms, the topic of Dads is complex.
A difference may be that many of us already know Father’s Day is
complex.
Men by our nature can seem mysterious.
Fathers are often accused of being aloof and far away.
Dad’s who were there. Dad’s who
never were. Dad’s who worked all the
time. Dad’s who didn’t show emotion because
they weren’t wired or taught that way.
Dad’s who thought a loud voice and a harsh hand were the only way to
parent.
Dad’s who simply didn’t know or do better because the truth is, no one
ever truly knows how to be a parent.
My Dad died in 1995, a month before he was 49. I’ve now outlived him by 41 months.
When younger, it was so easy to see Dad in shades of Black and White.
What he did wrong, what he did right.
When he was mean; when he was nice.
When he absolutely failed at being a Dad, a man, a role model.
When he excelled at being my Father, a male, and someone to look up to.
This week 2 of my Father’s legacies have come to the forefront.
The not so good- while working
with my ADESE mentor, I realized that my Dad never taught me how to save and wisely
use money, nor did his Father.
The Legacy, they left me with is that money just comes and goes and you don’t
really save, you don’t really plan- it’s just there.
So here I am at 52, realizing that if I want to live a secure life in
retirement, I need to step up my saving game now, because no one will save me
but me.
The positive- my Dad and Grandpa had this grand image that I’d follow in
their foots steps and go into the Army.
They spent years preparing me. There
was this book hey gave me when I was very young. It was about a boy scout whose brother went
off to World War 2 and how this young kid couldn’t wait to serve in the
military too.
I hated that book; couldn’t understand why anyone would be so anxious
about going to war.
When asked what I thought about the book, I told both men the truth.
Though I can’t recall the exact words said, the spirit of their answer
came down to that being a man meant doing what is right and doing what is
needed to protect your nation and others.
To this day, I still hate that stupid book, but the legacy those 2 men
left behind has shaped much of who I am, what I do, and why I do what I do.
It may sound chauvinist and jingoistic, but they are a huge reason I open
doors for others, write letters to the editor, speak at community meetings.
Legacy.
We never know what legacies have been passed down; we may never know what
legacies we leave behind.
Since we are human, as King David was human, some of our legacy will be
great, some will be good, some will be not so good.
I realize that here I am talking to a congregation made up of men who
have been fathers, are grand and great fathers.
What can be said because you’ve already raised your family?
What can be said is that your legacy isn’t just what you have or haven’t
done in the past. Your legacy is also
what you are doing now and what you will do.
Your legacy is not going to be black and white, you won’t be remembered
as only good or bad.
You will be seen as a total person who has left a lasting impact even if
you don’t know or your family doesn’t say.
Each day that you breathe is another day in which you get to shape, reshape,
and create your legacy.
As a citizen of America, there is the legacy of how you vote. When elections comes, what are the issues
that matter that can decide if your family lives in a better or worse world?
As a person, there’s the legacy of how you live your days and how you
interact with others.
How do you make people feel? What
do they think after interacting with you?
Have you let your family know you love them no they matter?
As a member of Emmanuel, there’s the legacy of how we embody our
faith. Did we love the Lord? Love our neighbor? Do we embrace a faith that embraces? Do we use our faith in God to do justice,
love kindness?
Legacy. What is the Legacy you would
leave now if today was your last day?
What is the Legacy you wish to leave for when your time to join the Eternal
arrives?
What are the things you can say, do, share, so that when your family looks
back upon you, they can say “That’s our legacy; that is our lot”?
As citizens, as individuals, as a Child of God, what will your legacy be?
It’s never too late, it’s not just black or white and it’s not limited to
space or to time.
For this, let us say “Amen.”
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