A Different Kind of “Act of Faith”

I have been spending some time, recently preparing my will.  Actually, I generated one many years ago, but things in my life have changed and it is the practical and responsible move to update things.  Postponing over and over wasn’t going to get it done, so as I proceed down this path, I thought I’d take you with me

I’ve been praying on this as the choices I am making will not necessarily be popular with family members I leave behind.  It is forcing me to think honestly and emotionally about my life, my relationships, and the positive hopes I will leave behind.   This is not just for legal reasons but also a final act of care, clarity, and love for those who will someday bear the responsibility of carrying my memory forward.  So, am I doing the right thing, the easy thing, the selfish thing or perhaps the wrong thing in my choices?  Only those I leave behind will make that judgement.

Sizing up one’s life is a personal review of the life we lived and a practical, on paper, view of all of us and the way forward for those who might or might not inherit our earthly riches or lack thereof.

In choosing what we leave, we often discover what we treasure most.

Taking Inventory

For people of faith, like me, this task can feel even deeper. It has invited a reflection on my blessings, the people who shaped me, those who called me a friend, and those who have not known me for many years. The communities that held me close and the God who walked beside me through every season are also those who deserve consideration when generating my will.   However, I believe I am not left alone.  Jesus meets me with the same calm assurance He offered His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  He has reminded me that planning for the future is not an act of fear, but an act of stewardship.  I suppose until I sat down and began this process again, I had not thought about it in this way.  But there is comfort in knowing Jesus is helping me in deciding what to do with my “things”.

There are only, in my case, a handful of people who have been so impactful in my life who will be part of the small group who will benefit financially when I go to God.  I’ve chosen to write a letter to those affected or not affected to ensure all know why I made the choices I made.  Some of the letters are long and were emotionally difficult to write.  Clearly, we all go through each day expecting tomorrow will come.  We also know, that is not always the case.  For me, I want to make sure those I love who have been there for me when I needed them most, know what they meant to me, even if it is in a letter to be delivered upon notice of my death.  Don’t get me wrong, I have in recent years, worked hard at verbally telling them how I feel.  From time to time, it catches them off guard, but I am at that age when telling them the truth brings a peace which helps me to know things are in order.

Jesus's Influence

As I pray through this process, Jesus has helped me see my life with gentleness rather than regret and gratitude rather than anxiety.  I am not financially rich.  I am not financially poor.  I am comfortable after having worked for close to 50 years.  Jesus has encouraged me to trust that the love I leave behind is far more enduring than any material gift.  And He has shown me that my final instructions can be an extension of the Gospel we tried to live—quiet generosity, forgiveness, compassion, and care for others.

Some of the letters I have written have brought me to tears as I write my true feelings about someone who will benefit.  The gift does not place a value on my relationship with them but hopes to encourage they might live a little easier for what I might be able to provide them.

Writing a will may feel difficult, but with Christ beside me, it becomes a sacred moment: a chance to honor my past, express my deepest values, and entrust my future fully into His hands.  It is, in its own way, an act of faith.