The Dash In-between

I have started a series of sermons on faith in the life of Abraham, and this past Sunday I asked folks to write down two dates.  The first was the date of birth (I did give permission to cover the date if people didn’t want their neighbor to see it!)  I then asked those present to put a “dash” after the date, and then the numbers two, zero, and a question mark.  It would be something like “1978 – 20?”.  The second date would be the date of death, an unknown for the most part.

I pointed out that we have no control over the first date.  We didn’t ask to be born, ready or not we came because of the actions of others.  And the second date, the date of death, is a date we have little control over as well.  But the dash in between – that is the place of choices, decision making, where we can decide what we will do with our lives.

Abraham at age 75 responded to God’s call and it changed his life and ours.  Our choices are important as well.  What we do with the “dash in-between" will speak of adventure and faith and the embracing of promise – or of boredom, waste, unrealized potential, unfulfilled longings. 

In this context I quote Gregg Levoy from his book Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life.  I continue to find this quote challenging, and I wanted to share the challenge and discomfort with you:

To sinful patterns of behavior that never get confronted and changed,
Abilities and gifts that never get cultivated and deployed –
Until weeks become months
And months turn into years,
And one day you’re looking back on a life of
Deep intimate gut-wrenchingly honest conversations you never had;
Great bold prayers you never prayed,
Exhilarating risks you never took,
Sacrificial gifts you never offered
Lives you never touched,
And you’re sitting in a recliner with a shriveled soul,
And forgotten dreams,
And you realize there was a world of desperate need,
And a great God calling you to be a part of something bigger
than yourself –
You see the person you could have become but did not;
You never followed your calling.

A powerful and troubling quote indeed – and through Abraham, a reminder that whatever age we find ourselves, we can respond to God’s call to find purpose, life, authenticity, and hope in following Jesus.  We can get up out of our recliner and be a part of something far bigger than ourselves.

I hope that will be your choice today and every day as you live out your dash in-between.