Heritage

As I was doing the original writing of Life Transitions, I came across the word 'heritage' and it has been stuck in my head for over 5 years now.  Perhaps it is appropriate that I put some thoughts down on this Veterans' Day and the first anniversary of my mother's death.

Likely what captured by attention about this word, 'heritage', was its use in Isaiah 54:17 as a closing statement, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord." (NKJV - emphasis added).  Maybe I tend to overthink things but it seems significant to me that God would inspire the original writer of this text to use the word 'heritage'.  So, what is 'heritage'?

We traditionally think of heritage as having to do with where we came from or having to do with our past.  More generally, we think of heritage as cultural aspects or traditions that have been passed down through generations.  Constructing a family tree might give a sense of personal heritage or it might be used in a legal sense to establish property rights.

Here are some definitions of heritage

• that which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner
• any attribute or immaterial possession that is inherited from ancestors
• practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
• hereditary succession to a title or an office or property

What definition might the writer of Isaiah 54 been thinking about?  I have come to believe that the writer had all the definitions and more in mind.

I came across a quote from Dr. Rodney Harrison that states, "Heritage has very little to do with the past, but is actually more about how we contextualize the future."  So, is understanding our heritage not so much about the past as it is about casting a vision for our future?  Even more important,  does the lense that we view the past through determine our vision of our future?

As it is Veterans' Day we could ask, does the vision of America's future look different through the lense of a veteran?  What is it about the history of America that causes a person to be willing to put their life in harms' way?  Perhaps it is a long family history of service to the country or an inner desire to see traditions preserved or even a desire to see the foundational rights of the citizens preserved or a desire to see our children and grandchildren have access to a promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I'm sure it is different for everyone but it is what creates a veteran. Does that give a veteran a different vision, a different hope, for the future of America?  As a veteran, I believe it does but everyone will have to answer that for themselves.

On this Veteran's Day, I want to say to all the veterans, I consider it a privilege to have served with you, a privilege to have preserved a long heritage of service, and a privilege to call you all brothers.

Back to the question of Isaiah 54, I believe he was challenging us to create a vision of our future based on the history of the "servants of the Lord" and another promise.  Interesting that Genesis 2:4 would place creating heaven and earth in the context of history, "This is the history of the heavens and the earth...".  Then Jeremiah 29:11 promises, "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

Can we honor the memory of those who gave all, who created our history, by spending some time joining their sacrifice to a promise - to cast a vision of a future and a hope?