Trace Jacksonliving the life God saved me for
  • about me
  • why this blog
  • goals
  • facebook

my life is a dash

May 1, 2007 1 comment Article "poetry"

anyone here entertain themselves by strolling through cemeteries, trying to solve the histories belonging to those buried beneath your feet? yikes! am i the only one?

actually, i don’t. but, since we’re on the subject – i wanted to consider the lovely sentiments we find carved into the headstones that capture the lives of the deceased. their entire venture on this earth; their laughs, their misfortunes, their pleasures, their pains, EVERYTHING between their first and last gasps of breath, grouped together in one simple gesture called the dash:

1947-1999
how insignificant a representation of all one’s trials, desires, worth,… how impersonal, how belittling!!, that a mere dash can say it all. and this same dash is used for everyone. the dates vary, the names change, but the dash stands there – a common symbol for all, stating that our travels, though diverse and uniquely intricate, really amount to no more than the guy’s in the next plot.

this really bothered me. so, i decided to investigate. webster’s dictionary says that a dash is

“n. a short, fast race” or “v. to complete, execute, or finish off hastily”

hellooo! i am a fleeting splash through the universe? get in, wipe your feet, get out, write soon! i don’t think so.

so i have decided to take it upon myself to modify that silly tradition. i am requesting a hyphen on my tombstone (it’s in my will, really!) sure, it looks the same, and many will confuse it with the dash and that’s ok. because i will know! and think about it: you’re browsing through the morning paper, your eyes reach the right-hand side of the column of type. do you stop? no, we read on, because the hyphen says, “hey folks, there’s more to come! the line has stopped, but the idea continues… stay tuned.” just because we will no longer walk this earth, does not mean our walk is over.

or perhaps i can use a minus sign. a minus prepares us to subtract one thing from another. or put another way: it makes a difference. picture it: a tombstone… the date of birth, the date of death, and in between… a life that made a difference. that’s how i’d like to be remembered. “yea, i remember her. she made a difference.”

and, you know, it all looks the same written on that stone anyway. a dash is a hyphen is a minus. it’s all how you choose to look at it.

so, what’s it gonna be? want to sum up your life’s events into a dash – a brief flash through a vast and timeless galaxy? or do you want to make a difference? and continue on to answer for that difference? because i’ll tell you what, friends, we WILL continue on (even if you settle for the dash). and we WILL answer for the difference (or lack thereof, if that be the case).

besides, i think God sees that short, linear symbol as a scar. a remnant of our trials and tribs, marking us wounded, but ultimately triumphant.

sound good? walk on.

wanna share?

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

1 comment

  • Wen March 13, 2009 at 7:37 pm - Reply

    Beautiful. What a wonderful writer you are.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Calendar

March 2021
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Aug    

Archives

  • August 2016
  • May 2015
  • February 2015
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • July 2012
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • March 2011
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • August 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006

Categories

  • "poetry"
  • a better me
  • a day in the life
  • devos
  • on mission
  • uncategorized

Copyright Trace Jackson 2021 | Theme by ThemeinProgress | Proudly powered by WordPress

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.