We recently took a walk in the cemetery and read the markings on the memorial stones. Some listed the person’s primary role and how they were remembered: “Mother.” “Father.” One had an etching of a golfer which must have been that person’s driving life passion (no pun intended). Some displayed the emblem of a club to which they belonged, some a veteran’s status. Many tombstones record just the names and birth and death dates with a dash in between. Linda Ellis wrote a now famous poem about this all important ‘dash in between’ the dates that represents how we lived our life.*
I was soberly reminded of a truth when recently reading an obituary. The sum of a whole life was quickly summed up in two paragraphs. And one of those was a list of those who came before and those who are left to follow, leaving just one paragraph to sum up an entire life.
It is probably unrealistic to expect an obituary or tombstone to sum up a whole life. Hopefully, the impact of a life could not be fully captured so simply. But how does one measure a lifetime of ambitions, hopes, aspirations, toil, sorrow, joy, and purpose?
How do you want to be remembered? For your hobbies, your belongings, your accomplishments, or that neatly trimmed yard? Isn’t a life lived well truly measured by how it impacts those around us and those who come behind us? Shouldn’t the focus of our life testify to such a great and wonderful God? And if it is lived for God, doesn’t it reach well beyond our own life to encourage those across the globe, those far beyond our familial circle of influence? Those who support GLOW, impact the lives of children across the globe, bringing hope, truth, grace, and practical helps. They change lives they have never (yet) met! (See the Ministries and Giving tabs above.). Those who support children through Compassion International and World Vision have similar global impact.
One day, there will be a great meeting in heaven of all whose lives you impacted, for a season and for all eternity. So before someone marks your final date, give thought to how you want to live “the dash in between.” Live your ‘dash’ intentionally today, and all your tomorrows.
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted (honored) in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:20-24
* See also Linda Ellis’ poem, The Dash, at:
http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html