After three failed attempts, British adventurer David Hempleman-Adams finally broke the world record for altitude achieved in a hot air balloon in January 2007. The old record—31,299 feet—was set in 1979; the new record—32,500 feet—is slightly higher than the cruising range of commercial airliners.

Hempleman-Adams couldn't revel in his glory for too long, however. In the subzero temperatures, his equipment froze, the balloon's burner was snuffed out, and all but 5 percent of his fuel was gone. Descending at a harrowing 1,500 feet per minute, he landed with what was called a "major bump."

An airline pilot who had flown beneath him commented on the feat: "Only a mad Englishman would do that in an open basket."^1.

Some folks will do anything to make their mark in life.
The Guiness Book of World Records is full them.
And I suppose some people don't really care one way or the other.

Abraham Maslow, the great psychologist created what he called a hierarchy of needs beginning with the most basic of survival needs right up to the most abstract of personal fulfillment and meaning needs.

The need to believe that your life has made a difference is something that I think most of us can relate to.
We all want to know that we have made a difference. Is there anyone who hasn't seen and related to Frank Capra's movie A Wonderful Life?

What does it mean to make a difference in life?
I suspect our ideas are pretty similar, even if we might differ on some of the methods.
I have to say balloon flying is not up there for me. Pun intended.

Last week I asked what you thought you might like to be your last words to your family. Not any time soon , mind you.
Georgina came up with one..."I told you I was sick!"
How about "Wait until I get buckled in before you light the fuse."

Paul knew he was about to die at the hands of Rome and he is writing to his protégé, Timothy.
Paul's last words to his young friend are a combination of instructions on how to be a church planter to tender personal vignettes.

He also talks about the meaning of his life. Not in grand philosophical language like he uses in Romans or Ephesians.
He is more practical here.
He says: "I have run the race, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."
Jesus says from the cross just before he dies, " It is finished. I commend my spirit into your hands."

Regardless of where you are on the journey, you can make a difference.
As I look around, and from what I know of each one here, I know you have made a difference.
You may not be in the Guiness Book of World Records, but you have made a difference in someone's life.

I cannot think of a single person here who would not be greatly missed.
At a funeral that I did recently, I had many of the family come to me and say how much they appreciated what I said and how meaningful the funeral service was for them.
I could say in all honest, "With your father, it was easy. There was so much good material to work with. His life told its own story." He had not accumulated the kinds of honors or trophies that make the newspapers, but his was a life of great dignity and grace and wisdom. As many of us here know and remember.
This is far more common actually than not. When we get to know people who live otherwise unnoticed lives we find surprising treasures of courage, sacrifice and nobility. They may go unnoticed except by a few closest to them, but they are not un noticed by God.

But to be honored by the people who loved you is a legacy for any of us to be proud of.
I cannot think of a single person here who would not be honored by loved ones.
So you already have a legacy.

Paul speaks of a crown of righteousness which he anticipates receiving from God.
I wonder exactly what he thought that would be.
How do you anticipate God's approval on your life?
A jeweled tiara?
Really there is no image that can describe it perfectly, but a crown certainly captures the sense of it.
Being honored by God and given His approval.
Whatever it is will be far beyond any of our expectations.

He says "I have fought the fight, run the race, finished the course, kept the faith."
The images convey the sense of having worked at it. We know from his life it was not easy.

I suppose though that any of us would think of the apostle Paul and say, "sure, but who am I to even consider that I could say something like that about myself?"
You are precisely who Paul was, a sinner forgiven by God's wonderful mercy.
Paul was not perfect. He made mistakes.  Big ones.
But he was forgiven and when he mis-stepped, he started back on the pathway.

It is not about perfection. It is about the faith in God that keeps you moving forward.
There are some ventures in life that are a short term, high energy sprint. Others are more like a marathon. But something keeps them moving. A goal they want to accomplish.

I don't think it was the crown that moved Paul forward.
I think it was knowing how much he was loved by God.
Remember his words in Romans 8. What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing. Not hardships, not even the fear of death itself. Not angels or demons. Nothing can come between us and God's love for us.

And isn't that really the best of all possible legacies?
Who are you? What does your life mean?
You are the beloved of God, who Jesus was willing to die for.

But there is still time for us to add to the legacy we leave here.
Do not underestimate the legacy you leave just by living wisely and well.
And I hope you do not underestimate the legacy of living with faith.

But I think most of us do underestimate the power of blessing others.
Sure we know doing kind deeds can make a difference in the lives of others.
But blessing others happens on many levels.
Sometimes its just about attitude.

I have recently begun to think more carefully about the way I speak to my children, though they are all adults now.
I ask myself if my tone of voice conveys a blessing.
Do I signal approval of them as persons or qualified approval when we are together?
I realize this is about me, not about them.
Do I let them know how glad I am to see them all when they come over, or do they get the sense that welcome is conditional or artificial in any way?

And outside the home, am I even aware of whether I am conveying a blessing to others?
I sure want to be careful about words and attitudes that curse.
How do we curse others?
Names we call each other can be a curse, especially to those closest to us.
Withholding approval when details of their life are not lining up the way we would like.
It's subtle, but its real.

And prayer.
The ancients in the Bible knew that you can confer a blessing on another as a prayer.
They did not do this lightly. It was a big deal.
Even in private, praying for others and asking God to bless them can leave a legacy.
Even telling someone you believe in them and are praying for them is a huge blessing.
Try it.

Grandmothers know all about this.
Never underestimate the power of a praying grandmother, or grandfather for that matter.

Paul says, "I have fought the fight"...against what?
Against giving up, I suspect.
Against discouragement or cynicism.
But he kept the faith. The faith that the efforts he made to do what God expected of him were never a waste.
Keep the faith. Have faith.
Your legacy is unfolding day by day.

The kindness, the courage, the wisdom and the blessings you put into play are never wasted.
When God is for us, nothing can be against us.