As You Wait

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on his casket from beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his 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 he spent alive on earth,

And now, only those who loved him 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 would 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 is 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 have 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?

The dash, or the wait, or whatever you want to call it, is all about living life right now, in this precious, present moment in time; not focusing on past regrets, not worrying about the future what-ifs, but allowing ourselves to be fully immersed in the gift of right now. According to Jude, in this present time, we are to build each other up, seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment and Love the Lord our God! It reminds me of what his half-brother Jesus said:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 37-40

If those are the words spoken about my dash, then I will fly content!!