Poem the dash linda ellis2/28/2024 ![]() We must be the first to set aside our differences, and lift each other up to touch that bar he has set for us by forgiving one another as He forgave us, and serving each other as He taught us to serve. If the sacrificial and self-giving love of Jesus has taught us anything it’s: love without action is not love.Īs followers of Christ, we must be willing to lead the way. Instead, hold tightly to humility, selflessness, generosity, and servanthood. But first we have to be willing to do the work, to love with a genuine heart for good.įor those who set Jesus as their example, you must not cling to pride, selfishness, favoritism or revenge. It needs to be put to work in order for it to work. Paul, like Christ, understood love is an action, not an emotion. What a great way to be remembered, don’t you think? Someone who changed the world. If we let our hearts be real and do what is right in the eyes of God, then we will do what Christ did…leave the world a better place than how we found it. The one we all must strive to grab hold of if we desire to be like him. ![]() So it is with Paul, who emphatically states, “Let love be genuine Hate what is evil. The dash that represents his life is a perfect testimony to this assertion. And surprise, surprise, it begins with Jesus’ favorite topic…love. Like the 10 Commandments, he provides a list of core values that help define us as a church, and teaches each one of us on how to live into the world as ambassadors and imitators of Christ. Now in this morning’s reading, Paul lays out a poetic yet profound “how-to” manual on living life in a way that represents God’s love for us. When my time comes, I hope I’ll be remembered as a great lover… and caretaker to all people, in spite of our differences of opinions or affiliations. What would you hear? Or better yet would you like them to say? That you worked hard, but could have worked harder? Or that you had a nice house filled with really cool stuff, but it could have been nicer had you bought cooler stuff?Īt the end of the day, what really matters most? As the poem states, it’s how we spend our time, living and loving between the years of our birth… all the way to our very last breath. Imagine sitting as a spectator at your own funeral, listening to people talk about your little dash. How does that make you feel? What does it make you want to do? The poem can inspire the reader to live more intentionally and to focus on what truly matters in life.It’s remarkable that a barely noticeable, simple unassuming mark represents everything you’ve done in your entire lifetime. It encourages the reader to reflect on the way they live their own life and to consider the ways they can make a positive impact on the world around them. The poem can serve as a reminder to celebrate the joys and accomplishments of the deceased, while also reflecting on the lessons they taught us and the impact they had on our lives.Īlternatively, the poem can be enjoyed as a philosophical reflection on the nature of life and the importance of living a meaningful existence. It can be personalized by reflecting on the life and legacy of the deceased and how they spent their dash. The poem can be used for a funeral as it highlights the importance of a life well-lived and the legacy we leave behind. ![]() ![]() The poem encourages the reader to reflect on their life and how they can make the most of the time they have. The poem suggests that what matters most is not the material possessions we accumulate, but rather how we live and love, and how we spend our time on earth. The poem "The Dash" by Linda Ellis is a reflection on the importance of how we live our lives, as represented by the dash between the dates of our birth and death on a tombstone. Would you be proud of the things they say He noted that first came her date of her birthįor you never know how much time is left, He referred to the dates on her tombstone ![]()
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