Discovering the principles and power in living, leading and leaving your legacy
Anthony Higginson
Legacy
“Mentoring is teaching that which you know and have become skilled at doing, whereas transference of a legacy is more reproducing who and what you have become into others.”
Anthony Higginson
You however know about my teaching, my way of life my purpose, my faith,
Discovering the principles and power in living, leading and leaving your legacy
patience, love and endurance, persecution, sufferings - what kind of things
happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra. Everyone who wants to live in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted while evil men and imposters will go from
bad to worse deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have
known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:10-15
i
My Personal Legacy
nature of Christ which daily has been built into their midst. To this end, I will continue to labour with all His grace and energy,
My calling and my mission; my drive and my assignment; my
believing that transference into a rising generation is but the best
purpose and my legacy to this house, the Dream Centre, is that
legacy to live, lead and leave.
each and every member, individually and corporately, knows how
to guide, guard and govern their personal, individual lives and the
This is my legacy to the Dream Centre. lives of their family members in the ways of God. My labour must
Pastor Anthony Higginson
therefore produce in them much needed wisdom, knowledge and
prophetic empowerment which are necessary for maintaining
progression and further advancements into the purposes of God.
Introduction
This wisdom, knowledge and prophetic empowerment must
‘Though death may leave a heart to ache, one thing it
will reveal; whether you’ve lived and led your legacy
life, for this no-one can steal‘
equip people in knowing how to conduct the immediate affairs
surrounding the household of God so that issues surrounding
kingdom advancement and kingdom governance are given top
Anthony Higginson
priority. My belief is that by doing this, their faith, integrity,
righteousness and vigilance will protect their paths, both now and in the future to come.
A person is not dead until they are forgotten
The date was 23rd August, 1989. The minister conducting the
service was a fresh-faced young pastor in his first year of service,
My labour must equip them to hold fast to that which they have
with little if any, experience. He simply received a phone call one
become convinced of and have consistently seen working in me,
day from the undertakers saying a lady by the name of Pat had
for it is these two strengths which will give them confidence and
passed away and could The Dream Centre church conduct a
continued trust in God. They must know how to ‘hold on to’ and
funeral service in her honour. Like most young freshmen entering
become ‘convinced of’ the revealed truth and the unswerving
into ministry, I accepted the request before thinking.
ii
The funeral was for a lady known only as Pat; no second name,
tributes and best of all, the choir, was all done by me, (of which
no details, no history - just Pat. As I searched the corners of my
the choir in particular did an outstanding job, it has to be said).
mind, I vaguely seemed to remember her as being a small lady
After the songs were sung, the traffic did clear and the crowds?
who, one day whilst travelling on a bus, was spoken to by the
Well, they didn’t show, but as they say, the show must go on and
youth of the church. She later attended a care group, only then to
it did - all the way to the place called ‘finish’. The reason why I
somehow fade away into oblivion and now the news came that
prepared a gospel message that day was simply because I had
she, sadly, had passed away.
no tributes or informational history as to what this lady had
achieved or what her life once stood for. I had no positives to
speak of; no illustrations, no parallels to use, just my good, old,
As this was the first funeral I had ever conducted, I had polished
trusted gospel message. I later found out that the three people
and perfected a message with the aim of speaking to a packed
that attended were housemates, as she lived in a local bedsit.
assembly, for after all, what a glorious opportunity to potentially
reach those who one day would be joining her. I have long since
learned an important lesson when conducting funerals; as long as
What sadness fills my heart to think that a life has been lived and
you don’t say the wrong things, (such as wrong names and wrong
has now gone and yet no-one was affected, and as a result, just
information about the deceased), then everything that is said is
three people gathered to stand and mourn a life’s passing. the right thing to have said, so to speak.
It seemed to me that Pat had passed into eternity unnoticed by
the world. Though my first funeral was somewhat of a cold
baptism, I couldn’t help but think to myself that this lady seemed
What stood out for me more than anything else was that as I
to have somehow slipped in and out of life unnoticed, but what I
approached the crematorium, only three people were in the cannot say, however, is whether she allowed her life to be lived
room - a room for which I had a message for hundreds. At first, and led to the full. No history, no celebration, no legacy left and
I thought to myself that ‘the crowd’ may have been caught up in
subsequently, no crowd to record her passing. Eighteen years
traffic. I tried to buy myself some time, but suddenly, the ushers
have now passed and I am probably the only one in the world
were carrying Pat’s coffin into the sanctuary and the time had
that has remembered her, for in death, she has been remembered
come for the hymns to begin. The hymns, the reading, the
but can the same be said of her life?
iii
As I am penning this introduction, sorrow still fills my heart at the
thought of her departing this life unnoticed, but nevertheless, I must use this account to awaken and inspire both myself and
others towards living and leading a full life; a life filled with vigour
and purpose so that when we have passed on, our lives have
pointed toward something substantial.
To have lived a life and have left no legacy is to have lived a
selfish and purposeless existence. Life must be lived and shared,
that is for sure, but most of all, life must be lived and given away
to those who fill the inner circle of one’s own life. To die not having affected those in the inner circle of life, so to speak, is to have never lived at all.
iv
Chapter 1
Que Sera, Sera
whatever will be...
“I may be here for a short while, gone tomorrow into oblivion or until the days come to take me away.
But, in whatever part you play, be remembered as
part of a legacy...of sharing dreams and changing
humanity for the better.
It’s that legacy that never dies”
Thomas Scott
Discovering the principles and power in living, leading and leaving your legacy
Chapter 1
Que Sera, Sera whatever will be
The principle concept:
Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be - Living the legacy
May you live every day of your life
“I may be here for a short while, gone tomorrow into oblivion or until
the days come to take me away. But, in whatever part you play, be
remembered as part of a legacy...of sharing dreams and changing
humanity for the better. It’s that legacy that never dies”
Jonathan Swift
Thomas Scott
Living in the dash
When each of us was born, we were given a number for example, 13/5/1961. That number was then recorded onto a piece of paper and given as a birth
certificate. When you die, you are again given another number, for example,
13/5/2048. This again is written onto another piece of paper, known this time as your death certificate. Once these two numbers have been recorded, they are then both placed alongside each other and inscribed upon your gravestone
albeit, separated by an insertion known simply as the dash. The inserted dash
separating these two sets of numbers is cold, but nevertheless is an accurate
symbol representing a life once lived, led and left to those stood mourning.
6
This dash almost seems insignificant, yet it symbolises a specific
Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be
God-given timeframe in which an individual was given to run their
personal life’s race. Though some live out their lives as though
Not wishing to appear ageist in any way but hopefully, you, like
they were running in a 400 metres sprint race, others chose to
me, have heard at some point whether via the radio or the TV, the
pace themselves for the long haul of marathon living. The dash is
1950’s hit song by Doris Day ‘Que Sera, Sera’ . This is a song that
cold, yet silent, but it speaks powerfully of what one’s life once
I have often alluded to when illustrating a point whether in public
stood for, along with the character it once represented for never
speaking or when writing materials, but just in case you are not
has so much been summed up by such a minute symbol.
familiar with the song, let me share the lyrics with you.
How we die may not be within our power or the circumstances in
When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, 'What will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me’
which we pass away, but what we do have however is the ability
to make choices and decisions, as choices empower us in taking
control of our lives. Whether we are conscious of it or not, every
us is living and leading our life whilst living in the dash of time. It
'Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be;
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera, What will be, will be.’
is because of this sobering thought that attention must be given
as to the type of life that one chooses to live and lead so it can be
When I grew up and fell in love, I asked my sweetheart, 'What lies ahead? Will we have rainbows day after day?’
Here's what my sweetheart said’
day we draw breath, life is recording how each and every one of
passed on to others. To revaluate or re-adjust one’s life at this
point could potentially create a different kind of future by such a
choice being made. The truth is, to ignore the concept of
becoming a legacy leaver completely will undoubtedly place you,
at your passing, alongside the other billion forgotten gravestones
that are scattered throughout the world. Now, is that what you
really want?
'Que sera, sera
Now I have children of my own, They ask their mother, 'What will I be? Will I be handsome? Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly’
'Que sera, sera
7
Even though this is just a song, the sentiment seems to parallel
be’, which are not very assuring words to give one’s bride-to-be.
so much of today’s attitudes when it comes to living life. Try to
Finally, the song finishes with a scene of the young married
see how many parallels you can identify. The first impression that
mother acquiring children of her own and just as she once asked
hits you as you sing along is the phrase ‘Que Sera, Sera what will
her own mother questions of ‘what will be, will be’, her children
be, will be’ which is repeatedly given as some kind of naïve
are now asking her the same type of questions.
ignorance meant to pacify a person from knowing and pursuing
one’s personal destiny and future. The young girl asks her mother
whether she will be pretty or will she be rich, the reply being that
What this song teaches us though, keeping in mind this is just a
we’ll just have to wait and see; Que Sera, Sera.
song, is that Que Sera, Sera is an attitude found very much alive
in almost every generation. People live without direction, without
hope and without vision thus leaving life down to either chance or
The girl at this point makes the same mistake many people make
luck. The greatest lie sung in this song is the lie that says the
when closing their eyes and peering into the future of what might
future is not ours to see. It is this lie that causes and creates in
be; day dreaming. The first rule of dreaming is that you must
people directionless and hopeless living. The future is very much
wake up in order for the dream to be pursued and here lies the
ours to see and to possess. All it takes is for one to wake up and
problem with encouraging people to build and pursue a legacy
make a decision then give that decision wholehearted
life. Notice the girl’s so-called vision casting really centres around
responsibility towards a specific direction, for this is the power her own low self-esteem for she is found repeatedly asking others
of a legacy. The next thing we see is that day dreaming is being
for reassurance; ‘will I be pretty?’, ‘will I be rich?’ and ‘will there
confused for vision casting. The aim and objective of writing be rainbows day after day?’ It seems that this young girl is so
to you, the reader, regarding living and leading one’s legacy, afraid of what the future may or may not hold that she is hesitant
is to encourage you to wake up and stop day dreaming for day
about embracing it. The song further progresses and her life fast
dreaming is fictitious and unreal and has too many variables.
forwards to the point whereby she has now fallen in love with her
Wake up, my friends, and see the future. Smell the coffee, as it
fiancé. She then asks him for reassurance as to what their marital
were, and seize the day. Begin living life towards the greatest
future will look like and should they tie the knot, to which he
power given to man - that of one’s legacy. Lastly, through the use
answers, yes, you guessed it ‘Que Sera, Sera, what will be, will
of vision casting, one is able to stop the mentality and disease
8
found alive within many a generation. Three whole generations of
provided for our benefit. We may not choose the date or the place
people in this song have fallen foul to the thought that life is down
of our passing; we cannot even choose the weather or the
to chance, luck and random lottery outcomes, rather than by
amount of sunlight received in any given day. We understand that
choices. The question of whether life will be filled with rainbows
around the world right now, there are countless people who are
day after day will ultimately be dependent upon one taking full
having their human rights violated, overturned and ignored, yet
responsibility for one’s own life. With responsibility, one then has
understanding this, people still have rights. However, there is a
to lead their life towards an aim, goal or objective which is
right that no government, no politician, no factory boss, no
direction and forward movement, for to do this consciously,
mother or father can take away, and that is the right to love, to
wholeheartedly and decisively will no doubt result in one’s hate, to forgive and to forget. To do this simply means that one
legacy being left.
has to exercise the right, whether that is the right to choose or the right to make a conclusion, for it is this right that no social,
political, religious or industrial power can take away.
The power of choice
The power of choice denotes that each and every one of us has
Understanding this right, the question therefore must now be to
both the right and power to be able to make a personal, private
ask oneself is ‘what choice or decision will I make from here on
and individual choice. It also denotes that the right to make a
in?’ Will you make a choice to live and to lead in order that your
choice empowers a person with alternatives and options, rather
legacy be left, and if so, what kind of legacy do you want to live
than life being down to random outcomes. The power of decision,
and transfer to your children’s children, for to answer this
however, is the power to be able to make the right judgment or
question will now determine the type of life that has to be lived,
the right conclusion which then determines an outcome. People
along with the responsibilities needed to be undertaken.
may say, ‘what rights do I have?’ along with ‘what decisions can I
make for I have no power to change things?’ to which I say, ‘you
are absolutely wrong.’ Every person who entered this world did
not enter it by choice, for it was a choice that was made by one’s
parents. We did not choose what nursery to attend; neither did
we choose our teachers who taught us, as these again were
9
Helpful questions to ask oneself
1. What type of legacy do I ultimately want to leave at my passing? (Get a clear mental picture in your mind, asking yourself is my legacy to be a financial, spiritual, moral, and educational or a sporting legacy?)
2. How am I living my life to date? (What are my blind spots? Am I a person who attracts people or repels them? Am I really that interested in other
people like I think I am? Do I listen to people because I have to or because I am genuinely interested in them?)
3. What new responsibilities do I need to undertake? (What training or help do I need and who or where do I get it from?)
4. Am I in good shape today - physically, emotionally,
Five defining questions necessary for living and
leading a legacy
1. Have you discovered your life’s purpose or reason for
being on planet earth and if so what are you doing about
what you have discovered?
2. Are you aware of what you spiritually, intellectually and
physically carry? (Meaning are you aware of the skill, gift, talent or grace that is
upon your life and can you clearly define it?)
3. Are you aware that the clock of your life is now ticking,
even in times of procrastination and if so, do you know
what time it is?
4. Are you aware that in tough times, you must learn to walk
and think by the law of the umbrella, meaning that unless
you build things around and into your life, life will try and
spiritually, intellectually and habitually? rain down on your parade? What levels of protection would
(If the answer to any of these is ‘no’ then the likelihood is that if you do not seek help, the chances of you leaving a
legacy become slimmer with every day that passes.)
you say that you have built into your life in order to protect
Legacies do not work based on the law of the fictitious, such as ‘what will be, will be’ but instead, work based on individual’s
taking complete responsibility and control for their lives in the
here and now of everyday living.
you from life’s downpours? A word to the wise; it’s best to buy an umbrella before it starts raining!
5. Have you a protégé, friend or colleague a family or even a
project in mind that needs more of your time and
attention? If so, why not begin right there?
10
All legacies must have a start and a finish, just like life,
for there must be a beginning and an end, but what must
be remembered is that though some people live their
lives as though they will never die, others die like they
have never lived.
Mankind is the only race that lives life with strange
peculiarities in that when man is bored with being young,
he rushes to become old and when he becomes old, he wishes
he was young again. He loses his health in order to make money,
and then spends his money to regain his health. He becomes
anxious about his future, so much so, that he forgets to live in the
here and now of life. It is because of such peculiarities that we
must awaken to ensure that all that is good and great within us
does not die at our passing, but instead, is transferred across into
those who are waiting for us to take the lead in living, leading
and leaving that which we carry.
11