Our whole family unit (6 adults and 3 grandchildren) are enjoying the unique privilege of vacationing in Indonesia and visiting our former place of ministry in Batu, Malang.
Our first ‘must see’ after Bali was Sarfat. As I wandered the terraced grounds of this Christian retreat center, the word ‘legacy’ came to mind. I remembered when this was only a dream of two single missionaries from Germany; now several buildings dot the landscape of this Indonesian hillside. A few are meeting spaces for retreats and conferences, most are rooms for weary workers who need respite and refreshment fromthe challenges of Christian Ministry.
Between the ‘then’ of yesteryear and the ‘now’ of today, life happened, tourists came, hotels were built and the quiet streets of Batu became thoroughfares too busy to cross onfoot. That the retreat center held ‘the test of time’ and remained true to the vision of two women who were without human credentials but strong in faith is powerful.
I remembered (as I meandered) that as their vision began taking shape, Robin and I were just down the road in the university town of Malang, We had rented a Dutch villa on a nice street to work with Indonesian students. Three years later, we returned to the U.S. to pursue pastoral ministry.
Now fast forward to just two days ago. We loaded the 6 adults and 3 grandchildren into our rented van and went up and down that “nice street” several times, trying to find our old house. It wasn’t there! Apparently, over the course of time…42 years to be exact…the house became derelict, was bulldozed down and became a very mediocre fast-food restaurant…think KFC Indonesia-style! Modernity had done its damage.
To my thinking, it is a present-day picture of a very old parable…a wise man and a foolish man and the houses they built, Matthew 7:24-27.
The thrust of the parable is to build your life on the right foundation…because the rains will come and those rains will test the foundation. Will it stand in the midst of life’s storms?
Robin and I have been spared much heartache in life because years ago we decided to live life out from “What does Jesus want?” So, while storms came, our ‘house’ held.
But that day, in my meandering, I saw the parable in a different light…the light of legacy: building on right foundations gives something to leave behind to the next generation.
So the question that came to mind as I looked at the legacy of this retreat center was this: What are Robin and I leaving behind? What legacy are we building to hand down to our kids…our grandkids…and beyond?
It certainly isn’t ‘bricks and mortar’…houses and property and possessions. It wasn’t then and it isn’t now. We’ve lived as sojourners: simply, unencumbered. I must admit (as I come to this stage where I’m thinking of what we leave behind) wishing we did have the ‘bricks and mortar’…the tangible ‘stuff’ with which to bless our kids and grandkids. But we don’t.
In the midst of this ‘wishing’, I’m reminded of something Jesus once said regarding the ‘tangible stuff’:
“Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33.
As I reflect on this, I realize two things: One, we have lived His command (seek first the kingdom of God) and He has kept His promise (all these things shall be added to you). We have wanted for nothing all these years of seeking first His kingdom. Two, a whole lifetime of our trust and His faithfulness has built our legacy; we pass on eternal truths that stand the test of time: God is the Rock that doesn’t move in the storms of life; look for the Invisible (God) and you will experience the supernatural (faith); live surrendered…it frees God to shower you with His abundance; when the storms hit, know that God is sovereign and is working for your good because He is good; live God’s vision for your life…it will enlarge your human capacity.
These are truths (learned ‘in the storms’) that have stood ‘the test of time’. They are our wealth; we pass them down to the next generation of Hadfields with every confidence they will remain true for their lifetime…and the lifetime of their children…and their children’s children…and all the way till Jesus comes!
Marcia.
