Guest post by Toby Slough - Legacy Pastor of Crosstimbers Church and leader of Goby Ministries.
874 words - 3 minutes
Editors Note: Full disclosure - Toby is a friend and I helped Crosstimbers Church in Argyle, Texas over a few years to help in his transition from founding pastor to his new role as Legacy Pastor. He now also leads Goby Ministries - a ministry focused on mental health.
Like many others, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Mike Leach. Being a native Texan and a big fan of college football, I have followed Coach Leach’s career through the years from Texas to Washington to Mississippi. He may go down as the greatest interviewee of all time among the coaching ranks. No doubt many have seen clips of those interviews since his passing was announced. This morning I spent some time reading the long list of tributes that have come in from around the country, and I was deeply moved.
Let me tell you why.
Mike Leach was 61. In November, I began my last year in my 50’s. When a peer my age dies, I cannot help but think about my passing. Morbid if you’re in your 40’s—quite natural, I would argue, as you approach your 60’s. Two things stood out to me as I read the tributes, especially those penned by former players and coaches. One theme was about Coach’s brilliance as an innovator and technical expertise on the offensive side of the ball. He took the “Air Raid” offense to a new level, and so much of what we watch on college football fields today can be traced back to his skill and wealth of knowledge applied through the years. Many talked about how he changed the game for now and the years to come. The other theme is the one that got my attention. It was from men who got their start under Coach as players, moved on the be GA’s for him, or joined his staff as young first-time college coaches. The theme of those messages was not how Coach had changed the game but how he had changed their life. One said, “Coach saw something in me that no one else saw.” Others spoke of his belief in them even when they had a hard time believing in themselves.
I stopped reading this morning and spent a few moments considering what might be said of me when I’m gone. If I get my way, there won’t be a long memorial service that people will have to ask off work to attend. There will be no press release or national media coverage.
I think of my circle of friends-the ones that have my cell number, and I have theirs. What will be the conversations they have around their dinner tables when they get the news that I’ve gone to be with Jesus?
I didn’t change the local church with my innovations or ideas. My preaching was average most days—my family doesn’t remember most of my messages, and I don’t think my circle will, either.
But I do hope they talk about how I made an investment in their lives that blessed, encouraged, or even helped shape them as parents, spouses, and difference-makers in their communities.
I hope some say I spoke possibility and potential over them even when they couldn’t see it for themselves. I hope some say that I took time for them as people because I wanted what was best for them and not for me. I hope that I am remembered for being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. And even if we didn’t always agree on concepts or ideas, they never doubted that I wanted what was best for them. That they may have known others with more wisdom than me, but they couldn’t find anybody who cared about them as much as I did. Most importantly, I hope they knew I prayed for them by name almost every day.
George Raveling (a hall of fame basketball coach) said,
“Legacy is not about leaving something people.
Legacy is about leaving something in people.”
The thing I’m finding about the work of leaving a legacy is this: investment over time builds something that lasts. It is some of life’s most significant work but make no mistake, it is work. It takes intentionality and the focus brought on by a value system oriented towards a long-term mentality.
Many see their “second season” as retirement. They talk of hobbies and relaxed schedules with lots of naps. Most of those discussions that I’ve been a part of consider retirement age tie to financial security. Honestly, many ride the wave of success in their chosen profession until it has crested and is about to hit the seashore. I’m all for hobbies and naps; financial considerations are a reality. It would not be wise to ignore them.
I’m wondering if some of us might view our second season as an opportunity to take some of our best years and invest in others.
Could we give ourselves to the work of leaving something in people?
Could we give to others something that many of us may not have received?
Time.
Grace.
Belief.
Words of affirmation.
Can you imagine how we could change our little corners of the world?
Coach Leach’s passing reminds us that no one knows what tomorrow holds.
Let’s swim the next lap and find the wave that builds a legacy. We probably won’t make the morning papers. But I know we can significantly impact generations in the days to come.
You can find out more here and get on his pastor newsletter here.
Do we need to have a conversation about your own legacy plan in the coming year?
Half of those conversations end with the decision of “I need to wait a bit, but this conversation was helpful.”
The others say: “I need a few others to converse with you about this issue.”
If you are up for it, send up an email and we can set a time. Just hit reply to this email.