Coattails

Legacies, inheritances, and coattails rarely carry one too far.  Everyone has something he or she rides on, even if it is simply towards destruction.  For you and me the only unknown in this equation is this; how long, how far, and how precariously is our journey?  Will we trust the ride of our parents to carry us through?  Do we assume what happened before is sufficient for us now?  Are we arrogant enough to believe that we do not need to invest and risk our heart and soul along with the engagement of our soul?
 
Given my choices and actions, I have been incredibly, extraordinary presumptuous at times.  The frequency is far more than I am willing to admit.  Somehow, I think I know because my parents knew.  Ironically, even if they did how is it relevant for today?  Casually, I act as if the work of the prior generations is sufficient.  I walk, blissfully ignoring the problems we face today.  Confidently I stand proud, blind to my own actions, the pain infecting those I love, and God’s hand of compassion and hope.
 
At some point, maybe now, maybe in the future, the ride ends.  If we could see this reality we would realize how fragile life we.  We would see how dependant we are on each other.  We could see that our coattails, inheritances, and legacies are often simply mirages on which we rest our egos.  Eventually our fa?ade crumples and time expires.  “That's why I [God] had to disqualify the Temple leaders, repudiate Jacob and discredit Israel.”  (Isaiah 43.28) 
 
Today is a foundation step for the present and future.  I find as I see life in the fullness of what is really is, ugliness and potential beauty, fear and awesome wonder, danger and compassionate hope, I find an invitation to make a difference.  God calls us to walk with Divinity.  The invitation is not casual.  It is not whimsical.  It is not because of our fathers or mothers.  It is because of who we, you and I, are.  It’s a calling worthy of God.