Legacy
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 āmust seeā after Bali was Sarfat. Ā As I wandered the terraced grounds of this Christian retreat center, the word ālegacyā came to mind. Ā 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 from the challenges of Christian Ministry. Ā
Between the āthenā of yesteryear and the ānowā of today, life happened, tourists came, hotels were built and the quiet streets of Batu became thoroughfares too busy to cross on foot. That the retreat center held āthe test of timeā 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, Ā We had rented a Dutch villa on a nice street to work with Indonesian students. Ā 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 ānice streetā several times, trying to find our old house. It wasnāt 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 restaurantā¦think KFC Indonesia-style! Modernity had done its damage. Ā
To my thinking, it is a present-day picture of a very old parableā¦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 foundationā¦because the rains will come and those rains will test the foundation. Ā Will it stand in the midst of lifeās storms?
Robin and I have been spared much heartache in life because years ago we decided to live life out from āWhat does Jesus want?ā So, while storms came, our āhouseā held.
But that day, in my meandering, I saw the parable in a different lightā¦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? Ā
It certainly isnāt ābricks and mortarāā¦houses and property and possessions. It wasnāt then and it isnāt now. Weāve lived as sojourners: simply, unencumbered. Ā I must admit (as I come to this stage where Iām thinking of what we leave behind) wishing we did have the ābricks and mortarāā¦the tangible āstuffā with which to bless our kids and grandkids. Ā But we donāt.
In the midst of this āwishingā, Iām reminded of something Jesus once said regarding the ātangible stuffā: āTherefore do not worry, saying āWhat shall we eat?ā or āWhat shall we drink?ā or āWhat shall we wear?ā For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Ā But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.ā Matthew 6:31-33. Ā
As I reflect on this, I realize two things: Ā 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). Ā 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 doesnāt move in the storms of life; look for the Invisible (God) and you will experience the supernatural (faith); live surrenderedā¦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 Godās vision for your lifeā¦it will enlarge your human capacity.
These are truths (learnedĀ āin the stormsā)Ā that have stood āthe test of timeā. 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 childrenās children...and all the way till Jesus comes!
Marcia.











