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Check out this hitching post. I stumbled upon this during our tour of historic Pioneer Farms earlier this summer. It’s a rather unique one as it’s mainly a large stone block with the steel ring anchored to the top. If you look closely, you can see what the years of constant use has done to the stone. Over the many repeated times that this steel ring was dropped back to the stone as the horses were untied, it chipped away at the stone, little by little, eventually leaving this impression. However, the steel did not accomplish this alone. Over what was probably the better part of a century, countless individuals made their contribution to what we see today as they handled the steel ring, each in their individual way. In addition, mother nature played her part as each rainstorm, drop by drop, worked alongside the steel in its pursuit to leave this lasting mark for all to see. The pursuit not only took time, it was a team effort. As we all navigate through life in an attempt to leave our mark on this world, it’s worth reminding ourselves that it won’t happen overnight, and we’ll never accomplish it alone. As the saying goes, “it takes a village”. With each passing day, we’re slowly chipping away at our legacy. The people we meet, the lessons we learn, and the places we see all contribute in their own special way. Some offer a lot, others may offer very little, but the collective contributions end up leaving the mark. This hitching post provides an example. Some may have used it once, others may have used it daily. Some may have been rough with it, while others were gentle. Maybe there was that neighbor that always stood at the fence during those late afternoon chats, fumbling that steel ring back and forth, over and over. Add all of these unique contributions up, and the sum is the mark that remains today. Although I hope this helps any of you who may be struggling during your pursuit of a lasting legacy, I write this as a reminder to myself. A reminder that patience is a must throughout our journeys, that we can’t do this alone, and that the pursuit, not the mark itself, is never to be taken for granted. The pursuit is life itself and should be cherished at every step. If we’re good to others, serve something greater than ourselves, and are grateful for the opportunity to live the gift that is our lives, our legacies will take care of themselves. |
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