The Dash

Since today is September 11, I thought this poem might be fitting. It's called "The Dash". Because we never know when our last day might come. And because we don't know that it's so important how we live our life today. Yesterday is the past and you can't change it. Tomorrow is not here yet and we don't know if it will come. That's why today is so important. It's the present. It's a gift. With that in mind, what do you want to be remembered for?

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile,

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

© 1996 Linda Ellis

I've said this many times...I wish we would have a life celebration before we die...like our funeral. Then I realized that we can have those celebrations anytime, but how cool that if on your birthday, people would tell you all the things they will say about you at your funeral?

I am going to put this on FB and encourage people to ask their friends and family to respond and tell them what they might say at their funeral. Is that weird?

If you are willing would you leave a comment:

• if you know me, what one thing would you say about me - I'll take the bad with the good. :)
• if people were at your funeral, what do you think they would say about you?
• or what would you like to change so that people won't say "that" about you.

If you'd like your comment to be private, just note that and I won't publish it.

The funny thing is that people for the most part don't talk about the negatives things at a funeral. They make joke about some things, but usually they just talk about the good things. That's great. But I am one who wonders what else they're thinking? I wonder what other perceptions they might have.

For instance, one might say that I'm:

very opinionated - even dogmatic

strong headed

unbending

a perfectionist - not always a good thing

my house isn't always neat & tidy

competitive

too emotional

too busy

uncaring

I think I'm always right (even though I am :) lol)

etc...

Some could be true, some might not be. Some are true, but only in stressful situations. Others are not true at all. They're just perceptions. So, what can I do to remove those perceptions that are unbecoming and not Jesus like? Do you know what I mean? What I'm trying to say is that I want to be remembered for the good things. I want to be remembered as someone who loves the Lord, my family, my friends and especially those that are "unloveable" by many standards. I don't mean that I want to be perfect or perceived as someone who's perfect. I just want to reflect the love of Jesus. That's all. It can be seen by what I say and what I do. It can be seen by the way I treat others. It's very easy to love someone who's good to you and loves you back. It can be challenging and very difficult to love someone who has wronged you or someone else. Jesus calls us to love our enemies and the unloveable. Wow!

Ok, so leave a comment if you will. It's always nice to know I'm not talking to myself.

Another thing...today my husband and others are filming a documentary on the homeless people in Mpls/St. Paul. Breakthrough Ministries (started by my husband) is a non-profit organization that has a goal to end homelessness one person at a time. If you've read my testimony you'll see why this truly is our calling. Please pray for Dave, Tim and the others that are involved in filming this documentary. They will start at 3 pm today and film throughout the night until 9 am tomorrow morning. Pray that the people they encounter will see the love of God more than anything. Pray that those that watch this film will have a broken heart for these people as God does. They are lost and hurting and many of them have no hope!

Thanks and God bless!

Christine