Please pardon the somber picture of a tombstone! At first glance, thoughts of tombstones and cemeteries don’t typically trigger happy thoughts for most of us. I just wanted to grab your attention to talk about your life for a brief moment. When we look at tombstones, one of the first things we are curious about is the person’s age, and we figure that out by looking at the birth date with the dash in the middle that ends in the day they passed away. We so easily scan over this with our eyes, but do you ever stop to think about all that the “dash” in the middle represents? Let’s face it — the dash is everything! It’s the compilation of that person’s story, who they were, what they did during their lifetime, and the legacy they left behind!
Let me tell you a quick story about Alfred Nobel, the man responsible for initiating the Nobel Prize. Originally, Nobel was best known for manufacturing new types of explosives and dynamite for a living. But in 1888, his brother, Ludvig, died in France from a heart attack. In a case of mistaken identity, it is believed that newspapers mistakenly printed that Alfred had died, (instead of his brother), and his obituary branded him as a “merchant of death” whose wealth was inspired by the fact that he had developed new ways to mutilate and kill. You can imagine the “wake-up call” Alfred received once he read his own obituary and realized how he would one day be best remembered! This apparently inspired him to re-think and re-purpose his life to become more meaningful and life-giving, thus giving birth to his ideas on designing the 5 Nobel Prizes, which ultimately became the legacy he left behind.
What’s your “wake-up call”? What does your “dash” currently look like? What would you change about your life today if there were no obstacles in your way? What would happen if you specifically designed your “dash” and began living each day with more purpose and intentionality?
The Bible says it best in James 4:14 here: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” The “dash” in your life, literally speaking, is telling of the very fact that your life will be here today and dash away quickly tomorrow! It’s time for you to realize that your life and the people that surround you are no accident. Take some time to think about your life and create a beautiful life of purpose and conviction!