One of the most exciting times in life is the arrival of a new baby. I am to be a grandpa again next month and a great grandpa in July. Everyone is excited. My wife has called everyone on the phone to inform them of the great news. One of the saddest times in life is the departure of a friend or loved one. Family and friends gather to comfort and encourage one another and to express goodbyes and last respects to the departed. On the tombstone both of these events are noted with a date. But what about the dash in between the dates?
That dash represents all the joys and sorrows of the person's lifetime. Just as in a recipe that calls for a dash of this and a dash of that, the outcome of a life is determined by what is in the dash. Each of us is living that dash right now. The decisions we make, the attitudes we express, the relationships we develop will all determine what is in the dash and whether it produces a life of fulfillment or emptiness.
The Bible give us some insight on what can be the content of the dash that represents our life. Jesus said that He had come to give us an abundant life. It is his intent that we have joyful lives. He even prayed that we would have joy in his prayer of John 17. God tells us that his purpose is to replace our fears with power, love and a strong mind (II Timothy 1:7). Most exciting of all we learn that God wants us to be his co-laborers, his partners. That begins when we receive the gift of his Son into our life and seek to make Him the commander-in-chief. Make the dash in your life just as exciting and eventful as the announcement of your birth was. If you do then the date of your departure will not just be a time of sorrow and goodbyes. It will be a celebration of the dash.
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