Column by Emily Williams, Features Editor

“Remember, you are going to die.”

I first heard these words at a conference I attended in Atlanta nearly three years ago, but this past week, they have rung more true and echoed in my mind more than they did so long ago. In a massive arena surrounded by thousands of college-aged students just like me, it was hard then to wrap my mind around what I was hearing and just what it meant to me.

Today, I am only just beginning to understand it better and I am slowly learning how to live like it is true – because it is. Someday, we will all pass away. We will expire. We will cease to exist on planet Earth. But the world will go on. Of course, there will be people left on Earth to feel the sting of our absence. There will be a time of mourning and crying to be had by those that we intertwined our souls with while we were here on Earth.

But after a certain point, even though we will never be forgotten, the memory of us will fade. And the question I am left with is this: what will I leave behind when I am no more? Whose life will my words still be touching when I’m no longer here to give a loving touch?

Recently, I have realized just how fleeting life can be. I am watching a loved one suffer the effects of Alzheimer’s, a famed pastor that I grew up admiring and listening to finally passed on to be with God after 99 years of service. I have watched teenagers in my church process the deaths of two classmates after a shooting that they should never have had to witness. In a season of my life that has been characterized by such joy and excitement, I have also felt the reality that none of this is permanent and we must look forward, keeping the bigger picture in mind.

Accomplishments are great. Success is great. Getting the grade is great. These are all good things that we should strive for as we march forward in this life. But is what we are leaving behind on this Earth really something that is going to make a difference in the life of someone else? Are we living for ourselves or for something bigger than ourselves?

I know that I am guilty of becoming so overwhelmed with my current circumstances and stresses of the day that I forget to keep the bigger picture in mind. And that’s so easy to do. But what if instead of being engulfed by tasks and stress and duties, we noticed what was going on around us. Maybe someone sitting at the table next to us in the coffee shop has just gotten bad news and needs a word of encouragement today. Maybe a friend of yours is hurting but doesn’t feel like anyone has the time to listen to what is going on in her life. Maybe you can be the one to make a difference and leave a lasting impression.

So many times, these columns that we write are sugar-coated with funny anecdotes, heartfelt memories and something to brighten your day. I love those and most of the time, I like to write them. But today, I am remembering the lives of those who no longer have the opportunity to make new memories or make a difference. I am remembering them and I want to honor them by doing something more in my life than making an A or getting that job or being the best at something. I want to leave behind me a legacy that follows me long after the grave. I want to leave behind something that someone can cling to in their darkest hour, a hope and the promise of a brighter future that is waiting for them ahead.