What About the Dash?

When we are in our teens and 20s, we like to believe we have all the time in the world to do stuff. I am 39 years old, and 19 years ago I felt invincible and all the good things I wanted to do could wait until I got older, and therefore wiser. But if you knew me in my 20s, you never actually knew the real me. You knew season 1 of me. We were severely underfunded, and the writing team was going through a lot.

We tend to take those years for granted because we see older people and think, “Wow, I have a long time to go to make up for whatever I do now.” And when our life is over, they make a big deal about the year we were born and the year we die — 1972-2020, for example. We always focus on the dates. But what about the dash? God is concerned about that dash. Just like the parable about the talents. What did you do with that dash I gave you? Did you make the world a better place? Did you try to better yourself and the people around you? Is all you have to show for yourself a nice house and car and a full 401k?

The dash is so small... just like that still small voice... but it is so important. Sit down and ask yourself, “What about my dash?” Will God see my dash and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant?” or “Depart from me because I never knew you?”

Dear God and Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a dash with which to serve you. Please help me to make that dash about you and what you want and not about me and what I can get out of it. Help me to remember how important it is. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Throughout This Day: Remember that God lives in you by his Spirit and thereby enables you to accomplish his will moment-by-moment. Ask him to show you what he wants to accomplish through you during this day’s part of the dash.