The headlines are about a movie star dying. But Paul Walker was a lot more.
For those familiar with the "Fast and Furious" movies he was famous for, his death was especially jarring. Because of the way he died - a high-speed accident, the exotic race car exploding in flames. Eerily reminiscent of the movies that made him famous.
But now, in the days following the initial shock, people are focusing on Paul Walker the man, not just the movie star.
A humanitarian. He used his wealth to start a charity that provided disaster relief around the world. In tornado-ravaged Alabama. In Indonesia after the tsunami. He was on the ground personally shortly after the Haiti earthquake. When he died, he was returning from his charity's fundraiser to help victims of the Philippine typhoon.
And since his now 15-year-old daughter came to live with him in 2011, he was learning to love what was becoming the best role of his life.
Dad.
I was reminded of what it says on my dad's grave. To most, he was known for the leadership positions he rose to in his life. But his headstone has only two words on it besides his name. "Husband." "Father."
After all is said and done, that's what lasted. Other people could have held the positions he had. But no one else could have been my father. And he was a good one.
Last night I watched a wife and three sons pay tribute to their husband and father who had just died. In another high-speed crash. This time it was a speeding train in New York City. They said, "We just wanted everyone to know what a great husband and dad and person he was."
It's all made me think again about what really matters. And it's underscored what may be the two greatest issues in life. Which, strangely, we seldom think about.
Legacy. And eternity.
The Lakota Sioux have a proverb that's tattooed in my mind: "We will be known forever by the tracks we leave behind." For the most part, those tracks won't be accomplishments. It will be people.
Like Paul Walker's daughter and those three sons of the man in the train wreck. The seeds we plant in the souls of our family will blossom long after we're gone. Seeds of love and integrity and character. Or seeds of selfishness...anger...hardness.
As philosopher William James said, "The purpose of life is to live it for something that will outlast it." That's the lives we invest in. Not the loot we accumulate. Or the lists of our achievements.
And then there's the issue of eternity. Often, death comes suddenly. Early. Without time to prepare.
Some of my worst nightmares have taken me into important situations where I was caught unprepared. A test. A speech. A major event.
Those were dreams. What's far more significant is the reality of being prepared for whatever's on the other side of my last breath. Because that will last forever.
Legacy. Eternity. The things that will matter after we're gone should be what matters while we're here. The North Star to steer a life by.
For me, Jesus took the mystery out of eternity. He’s been there and back. Dying a brutal death. Buried in a borrowed grave. Walking out of that grave three days later.
Jesus is the only one I trust when it comes to the subject of heaven and eternal life. Because He’s the only one who’s proven He’s got that life Himself.
He said He came here to get us ready for eternity. For the meeting with God the Bible describes: "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Judgment for our life as hijackers. For hijacking a life the Bible says was "created by Him and for Him" (Hebrews 9:27) and running it our way.
The greatest discovery of my life was realizing why Jesus died on that cross. In the Bible’s words: "Christ died for our sins" (Romans 5:8). I did the sinning. Jesus did the dying for it. So I could go to His heaven - when it’s judgment I deserve. But He loves me so much that He took it for me.
So I’ve grabbed this Jesus with both hands and said, "Jesus, I’m putting all my trust in You." And He said, "Because I live, you also will live" (John 14:19).
And there is no greater peace than knowing you’re ready for eternity. However, and whenever it comes.
