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“And Joseph went up to bury his father and with him went up all the servants of Pharoah, the elders of his house, and all the elders of this land of Egypt.” Gen. 50:7

Today the body of Rep. John Robert Lewis was laid to rest. The week has been filled with images of his casket being moved from one place to another until today, where it rested for a moment of remembrance in the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA before it was interred. The church was filled with dignitaries, ministers, friends and family both young and old. The overarching theme of every word of memory and comfort was that of a life devoted to challenging injustices and promoting peace, love and respect for all humanity. All who listened in on this service was encouraged to do as Rep. Lewis urged everyone to do, “get into good trouble, necessary trouble.” It was a moment to honor and remember a life well lived. I have witnessed too many funerals of well-known individuals and lesser known individuals who have served humanity in many ways, but there was something unique about this one.

What struck me first and came to my mind as I watched, was the text above and the story attached to it. When Jacob passed away, his son, Joseph, led the funeral procession to bring his father back to the Promised Land. Along with his brothers, dignitaries, elders and the people in the surrounding area understood that a great man was being laid to rest. Jacob was not a perfect man, but he was the ancestral father to a nation that would bring forth the savior of the world. All who witnessed the procession understood a great man was being laid to rest. Today a nation, paused as a great man, a godly man was being laid to rest.

The other thing that struck me was the resounding challenge to do more than remember a man’s life and his work. It is not that everyone should try to live the kind of life that Rep. Lewis lived, but we were challenged to take up the mantle of righteous indignation that would continue his work in every place where ever it may arise. It made me pause and ask myself how willing am I to stand up against, speak against the wrongs of this world and more importantly take these actions with the same level of peaceful and loving spirit that Rep. Lewis exampled. He patterned his life after Jesus, and so that is really the challenge, how much do I daily strive to live and do as Jesus taught? Rep. Lewis showed us that living out Christ-like behavior is not a lofty theory but it is daily endeavor. I want to think I am doing that, but the moment made me look inside and say, “do I really?”

We are not all going to march into destiny on the Edmund Pettis bridge, live in the national spotlight or even make change agent moves that will reshape society, but we are all challenged to live in a manner that reflects the work and character of Christ, especially in the face of injustice, physical threats and in opportune moments of suffering that can point others to our savior. I believe that is what Rep. Lewis understood and encouraged, that the greater work often is in the seemingly small, unseen opportunities God gives us to actively live out our faith, reflect Christ and thus change the world, one day, one moment and one soul at a time. Remembering is good, but rising to meet the challenges is necessary, living our faith is more powerful and effective than titles and positions. Today I was challenged to do more than remember.