We all have a few things in common and their are some we don’t have a choice of. Things such as who are parents are, where we grew up. But we do have many more things the make up our life that are determined by our desires, choices and responses through life. This session we here about what motivates our lives.

[ Shaken – Session 4 video ]

What were some of the insights you got from the video?

Many of may have heard the analogy of the “dash”. The little line between some dates on most tombstones and burial plats. There is a wonderful poem by Linda Ellis that can summarize the concept…

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning...to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?

What is the story behind your “dash”?

The good thing is that our dash is still being defined. At many points in our life, undoubtably, our line may be crooked, curved, jagged and essentially a mess. The challenge to the poem is about who may show up at our funeral, what might be said. And truthfully the things we are also aware of are the ones that won’t come to our funeral, and what the thoughts may be that will not be spoken.

What kind of legacy does the world tell us to live for?

Most people neglect to think with the “end in mind”.  They get so involved and focused on the tree right in front of them that they forget that there are other trees or that they are in a forest.

How does that type of living affect how people live?

What are some of the trees that prevent you from seeing your forest?

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. – Philippians 1:6 NLT

In our lives today we have had some family members and even some friends pass on. Some have seemed to live some good lives, others not so much so.

What kind of legacy do most men leave behind?

Like the characters Tim mentioned in the video, they used their lives to impact other lives. He went on to explain that we can get so caught up in living our lives, like Tim wanting so bad to get the next award, the next achievement, but miss the opportunity to live life. We need to keep perspective to what really matters. How we live our lives and produce that “dash” matters.

What are the things of most significance in one’s life?

What changes need to take place in your life? What areas need a little bit more attention and focus, and which ones might need to be toned down or adjusted?

• ministry
• friends
• work
• family
• marriage
• spiritual life

Some scriptures to reflect on the topic of finishing well…

⁶ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. – Acts 20:24 NLT

 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. – Philippians 3;14 NLT

²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT