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Letters from 30 August to 4 September 2010

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The dash is the thing

I read AO every week and have quoted or sent links to articles on numerous occasions. One of favorites was about the light-up sneakers and not worrying about the little stuff.

As I read last week’s letter (29 August 2010) I was reminded of a funeral service recently . During the service a family member read a poem that struck a chord with me. It was Linda Ellis’ poem, entitled “The Dash,” It follows, in part:

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her 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 she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
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.
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 that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

Thanks for a good read and thinks to ponder each week.

Peace and all good.

Phillip Geliebter
Trinity Church-Oxford, Philadelphia
Willow Grove, Pennesylvania, USA
31 August 2010

Earlier letters

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All published letters are in our archives.