Ecclesiastes 6:12 How can anyone know what is best for us in this short life of ours -- a life that passes like a shadow? How can we know what will happen in the world after we die?
One of the most exciting parts of the Olympics is to see who the fastest man alive is. A young man from North Carolina proved to the world that when he ran the 100 meter dash in 9.85 seconds. When asked about the race his comments were, “This is what I was born for," Justin Gatlin said. "This is why I started running, and this is why I live. I said it was going to be the most exciting race in the world, and it was. This is what I train for.” Now Justin is just a memory as Usain Bolt of Jamaica ran the ran in 9.58 seconds. I ponder who the fastest man was in the 1970’s, 1980’s, or even the 1990’s. My mind is blank. They are all now shadows in history.
Years ago the “dash” in life though took me to a small cemetery outside of Cincinnati. There I saw a number of monuments that had the same last name as mine. One name was the familiar name of my great-great grandfather, Jackson Balser, who served in the Civil War. I still have his field rifle that has been passed from generation to generation, including notches in the stock.
Staring at the monument I noticed the dash between his birth date and his death date. What had he done in the lifetime called “dash”? What was his farm life like? How did he relate to his children? How did he serve during the Civil War? What legacy did he leave? Throughout the cemetery there were people from infants to those over 100 years of age. Looking at each one I was void of what they did in their life. Then it hit me. I am part of my great-great grandfather childrens' dash.
The principles of life were passed to his children who passed it on to their children and so forth until it came to me. Maybe it was looks, maybe it was attitude, probably not my temper, but since it was in a church cemetery that my great-great grandfather established. I realized that it was his faith that lives in my heart and is being passed on to my children and will be to their children.
What is in the “dash” of your past? Not everything that has happened in our past will be things we want to recall. Yet the best part of living this life is that we live under the grace of love in Christ.
One important aspect, as you look at the “dash” in your family’s lives, is that you can keep and cherish what is good and discard what is bad. As we build a relationship with the Lord, think about what the “dash” will be in your life. Build the “dash” in your life everyday so people will know who you were, not by events or accomplishments, but by your reflection of Christ’s love through you every day!
Just remember what Solomon said, “Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.” Ecclesiastes 12:13