Too many of us have one foot in the past and one foot in the future – so much so, that we forget to live in the dash!!!

The dash is the line between our birthdate and our death date that we will all have on our tombstone one day.  (Hopefully, later rather than sooner!!!)

These dashes all look the same at first glance, but they are way different upon further inspection.

Some of those dashes may be full of joy, laughter, sorrow and pain – which is what life is full of anyway.

However, all too often the dashes are a desolate waiting ground where we’ve spent too much time paralyzed by fear, worry and anxiety instead of actually living.

The dash represents the present and what we are doing with it!!!!  It would serve us well to remember that we only get one chance and we’d better make it count!

However, if we are living in the past or the future we miss living the dash as we should by actually LIVING our purpose, therefore, doing what God wants us to do in this life.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. James 1:22-23

There are lots of clichés about the present being a gift, but they are all worthless if they don’t inspire us to make changes and start living in our dash.

So, what is it that can make us LIVE each day free from the burdens of life and careless in the care of Jesus Christ?  (I can’t take credit for the “careless in the care of Jesus Christ” because that came from my preacher’s sermon on Sunday and I just LOVED IT!!!)

Well, the main thing we have to do is get to know Jesus Christ in order to be in His care.

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

Developing our relationship with Jesus isn’t as hard as it might sound.  In fact, we make it difficult instead of just doing it most of the time.

All we have to do is ask Him to help us.

For example, for the past several months I’ve felt like my own relationship with Jesus has taken its own hiatus.  So, a few weeks ago I started praying that He reveal Himself to me and for me to grow closer to Him.

Guess what?

He’s done just that.  Lately, I’ve felt His presence, seen His miracles and heard His voice…AND I’ve responded to His calling.

Funny how that works.

Living in the dash is a choice and that choice defines what type of life we will have lived when that day comes when they put our tombstone out for everyone to see.

Will we have lived well or will we have lived waiting?

It’s up to us what our dash is going to look like.

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.