Obituaries, Dashes, and Journeys

Just to be clear.... my thoughts definitely do not always land in the dark and dreary... but like I said before, these are my thoughts, and at this moment... they've been about the following: :)
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o·bit·u·ar·y/ōˈbiCHo͞oˌerē/

Noun:

A notice of a death, esp. in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

This is a TOPIC so many prefer NOT to talk about.
For so many various reasons.
BUT, I find an interesting one and an important one.

The Obituaries are one of the sections of the Newspaper that I read through. The starting point is the name (most times a picture as well), then the Birthdate and date of Death. The Obituary give a brief description of the 'Dash'.

That's the part that interests me... the Dash...

Linda Ellis wrote a wonderful Poem...

HOW DID YOU LIVE YOUR DASH?

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 her date of birth 

And spoke the following date with tears, 

But he said what mattered most of all 

Was the dash between those years. (1934 -2000) 

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's being read 

With your life's actions to rehash... 

Would you be proud of the things they say 

About how you spent your dash?

 
I guess my thoughts have been around this topic this week as there have been a number of deaths that I've been connected in conversation about. A friend of my parents who @ 70 passed away - lived a very full life, a life learner, loved his family, loved the Lord... A son of a co-worker's friends, died in a traffic accident caused by a sudden health issue. A son of acquaintances from our church, died suddenly in a workplace industrial accident, he was in his 20's. The teenage girl who committed suicide as she could no longer cope with the bullying she had been dealing with....

So many deaths, in my small circle... you can see how my thoughts would be about 'the Dash'...

I haven't fear of death itself.

My Faith assures me, I know where I'm going.

What an amazing freedom comes in that alone!

I was given the gift of life when I was born, I accepted the gift of life when I asked Jesus into my life, and I will live eternal life because of salvation.

So it's my life journey that that determines my biography,

my story...

my 'Dash'.

AND... we get one journey.

A journey which will have hills, valleys, mountains, plateaus...

Hopefully a journey filled with more laughter than tears.

Hopefully a journey embarked on with purpose, and journeyed with family, friends, and strangers who add to the memories and quality of life.

Each day is a gift, a step in the journey, a 'pixel' in the dash...

I believe it would be amazing if I lived my dash and was able to have written as Paul had written... "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

The good fight... Loving Jesus, sharing Jesus, growing in my faith, loving my husband and my children, loving my family & friends, loving my neighbor... As the bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8... "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

  

NOW...

THANKFULLY,

God knows I AM SOOOOO NOT PERFECT!

He knows I will not always be patient, I get angry at times, I get sad and down and feel kinda hopeless at times....
BUT...
THANKFULLY, He never gives up on me, loves me as I am and always with me throughout my whole journey.

So with one step at a time, I embrace my journey.

Until next time...