Reading The Dash

This idea I am writing about is not original to me. I did not copy. I have simply used it for my own inspiration.

Have you ever stopped and looked at a tombstone, grave marker, monument? What is the one thing they all have in common? There is a beginning date; the date they were brought into this world. Then there is an ending date; the date they left this world. Sometimes there is an epitaph that has a quote or some remembrance of the person who is buried there. Sometimes there is artwork carved on the stone along with a name. But, there is still one more thing they all have in common, the Dash, the line between the two dates.

The Dash represents all of the time between the day the person was born and the day they died. In some cases, the dash may only represent a short amount of time and other times it may represent decades; the history of that one person. We can’t read the Dash, but guess who can? God can!

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Matthew 25:23

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

My dash is not pretty. It is fill with anger, hurt, jealousy, conceit, sinfulness, even hatred and depression. But it’s also filled with grace, love, joy, gratitude, repentance, mercy, thanksgiving, and salvation. The average person doesn’t see all of this when they see the Dash, but God does. Repentance and salvation erases most of my Dash. God reads all of the dashes. What will your Dash say? Mine is still being written.