The Dash poem

Please forgive the long silence. There has been much going on over the past few months on several fronts. We are just back from a drive down to Texas to attend the Memorial service of a dear family member. This was the first time our youngest 'grands' have been close to the passing of a grand parent and part of a gathering of this nature. It was beautifully and thoughtfully arranged to accommodate several different religions, it was well attended by a variety of people, the stories shared were inspiring. He touched so many lives and is remembered with respect and love.

One speaker shared a poem I was not familiar with. I would like to get back to blogging on a regular basis and sharing this with you has prompted me to do so. You will enjoy reading it again, if you already know it, and may be inspired by it, if it is new to you, as it was to me.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the service 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 represented 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 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?

Live your dash today. But as you continue your study and application of Christian Science know that your life is with God, who created you in His image and likeness. You are the reflection of His being, the expressing of Love. Your life is eternal, without beginning or end. But as you are working out your ability to see and demonstrate this, let your 'dash' be filled with blessing and being blessed by God.