Living Our “Dash” Well
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” Paul wrote his spiritual son, Timothy. Isn’t that a wonderful challenge for us as well? To finish our sojourn on earth by keeping our faith in Christ?
The promise that completes that Scripture verse is wonderful. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV).
Most gravestones have a dash between the birthday and the death of the person buried there. Linda Ellis wrote a famous poem called “The Dash” challenging us to live our lives well between the dash—from our birth to our death. She asks when our eulogy is being read with our “life’s actions to rehash,” would we be proud of how we spent our dash? 1
Once I saw a headstone in a cemetery for a young woman: “She Lived Her Dash Well.” Wow, I wish I had known her. One husband and wife’s gravestone reads: “We Had Fun.” Doesn’t it make you curious about their happy lives?
Let me tell you about a friend of mine whose obituary in the local newspaper made me laugh with joy, remembering her.
Some years ago Deloris lived in a little town about twenty miles from me. A town with one traffic light, one grocery store and one real estate office—hers. Various friends would stop for coffee and prayer at her office. Sometimes enough people just showed up at the same time that we had a full-fledged prayer meeting. She was a prayer warrior. After her husband and one son died, her other son moved back home to help her.
He wrote her obituary for the newspaper which expressed her life boldly. It began with her name, followed by the dates 1930-2008 and a statement: “On a glorious blue-sky afternoon on April 16, the Heavens in indescribable majesty welcomed Deloris…” Then it told about her family who had proceeded her in death and listed some of her accomplishments as a business owner in her small community. It ended with this:
“The Lord blessed Deloris with His heart. She was quick to give if you were in need. Should you whisper to her “pray for me” in Kelly’s [grocery store], be prepared for an out loud, Pentecostal, hell- shaking, hallelujah response right there between the Jim Dandy grits and the blackeyed peas. The world has lost another warrior of righteousness and Heaven has received another faithful servant. She will be sorely missed.” 2
Our dash is still being lived out. Our race is still being run. When our earthly journey ends don’t we want it said, “He (She) Finished the Race Well.” Isn’t that your desire too? 3
Prayer: Lord, give us divine opportunities and occasions to help others succeed—to make positive and significant deposits into other people’s lives. To share our Christian faith and Your goodness to us. Help us run Your race for us well. Thank You for the crown of righteousness that awaits us when we meet You. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
Scriptures: But those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up. (Isaiah 40:31 TPT)
I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 AMPC)
1. Linda Ellis, www:lindaellis.net/the dash
2. Deloris Merritt, Obituary, Northwest Florida Daily News, Ft. Walton Beach, FL. April 19, 2008.
3. Quin Sherrer, Cast Your Shadow: Influence On Purpose, Kindle, 2017, p 193.
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