What will your dash say?

After death has come and gone, a tombstone sits for many to see. But it serves no more than a symbol of a persons memory. Under the persons name it reads the date of birth-and the date the person passed. But the more I think about the tombstone the only important thing is the dash. Yes, I see the name of the person but that I might forget. I also read the date of birth and death, but even that might not stick. But thinking about the person, I can't help but to remember the dash. Because it represents a persons life, make sure you are on a positive path because people may forget your birth and death, but they will never forget your dash.

This poem is called The Dash. It was written by a Notre Dame football player named Alton Maiden. It was inspired on a team trip in Ireland when the player visited an old monastery.

I actually read this poem years ago and it had a significant impact on my direction in life. I don't want to live the sort of life where I just live, work and die. I believe I was created for so much more than that. In fact I know we were all created for more. All of us should sit for a moment and think of how we want to be remembered. Think bigger than your own family though. Jesus impacted thousands...shouldn't we strive to do the same?!

My Dash October 2, 1979-???

I pray by the time that I'm gone I'll be remembered for many things. Hopefully more great than good! I want to be remembered as a loving family member, brother, son, grandson cousin and friend. I want to be remembered for standing for rightous things not popular things. I want the Lord to impact many people through my life..not just family and friends but strangers, people I may never get a chance to meet, I hope somehow a word I have spoken could reach them and change the direction of their life for good. I want to leave an impact in my community, church and if I'm blessed enough, my country. To live a life with honor, integrity and character. Then there is the simple things. People should remember me as a guy who always smiled. Bringing light into a room. That I enjoyed life and all it had to offer.

I'm sure there is more that I would like to be remembered for but I think the important thing here is that we are striving to be remembered for a purpose. There is more to our lives than the everday grind of life. So take a few minutes and think of your dash!