It's a very touching poem entitled, "The Dash". It is about a man eulogizing a good friend at her funeral and referring to the dates on the tombstone - the date of her birth and the date of her death - separated by a short dash. The dash, the man went on the explain, represented the whole of her life, from birth to death. And only those who knew her knew the value of the dash.
"Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. " (Genesis 25:8)
Abraham was literally a faith giant. The legacy of his life of faith extends down to every believer in Christ (Galatians 3:29). The "dash" of his life is monumentally important to us.
None of us know with certainty the length of our days, but we each hope to live to "a ripe old age". Even more important is that it be said of us that we were "satisfied with life".
I've known people who had discovered what they thought to be the secret of happiness in life. Sadly, many of these people had great regrets later in life when they discovered the emptiness and meaninglessness of self-seeking pursuits.
The poem, "The Dash", ends by asking us to consider how we spent "the dash" that represents our lives. Are we pondering what is true and right? Are we rearranging priorities while we have the time? Are we genuinely loving and considerate of others?
When we think of our lives in terms of "the dash" that separates the date of our birth from the date of our death, the priorities of the two Great Commandments are much more clearly in focus:
" `YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' " (Matthew 22:37-39)
Abraham's priority was to walk in faith with the God who had created him and who extended rich promises to him. Because of this he was "satisfied with life".
I submit to you that the only true satisfaction in life is a life of faith walking with
our Creator whom we love with all of our heart, soul, and, mind. This gives the ultimate meaning to the "dash" that characterizes all of our lives.
How are you doing today with "the dash"?
Steve
"The Dash", by Linda Ellis (http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/)
"Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. " (Genesis 25:8)
Abraham was literally a faith giant. The legacy of his life of faith extends down to every believer in Christ (Galatians 3:29). The "dash" of his life is monumentally important to us.
None of us know with certainty the length of our days, but we each hope to live to "a ripe old age". Even more important is that it be said of us that we were "satisfied with life".
I've known people who had discovered what they thought to be the secret of happiness in life. Sadly, many of these people had great regrets later in life when they discovered the emptiness and meaninglessness of self-seeking pursuits.
The poem, "The Dash", ends by asking us to consider how we spent "the dash" that represents our lives. Are we pondering what is true and right? Are we rearranging priorities while we have the time? Are we genuinely loving and considerate of others?
When we think of our lives in terms of "the dash" that separates the date of our birth from the date of our death, the priorities of the two Great Commandments are much more clearly in focus:
" `YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' " (Matthew 22:37-39)
Abraham's priority was to walk in faith with the God who had created him and who extended rich promises to him. Because of this he was "satisfied with life".
I submit to you that the only true satisfaction in life is a life of faith walking with
our Creator whom we love with all of our heart, soul, and, mind. This gives the ultimate meaning to the "dash" that characterizes all of our lives.
How are you doing today with "the dash"?
Steve
"The Dash", by Linda Ellis (http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/)
posted by steve @ 11:30 AM
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