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God has blessed me with a lot of good friends, and Tom Smith is one of them.  A few years ago, as we were talking, he handed me the following eulogy of Ben Rawlins, a president of Union Planters Bank, written and given by his best friend.

 

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR DASH?

 

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on his tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

 

He noted that first came his date of birth

And spoke the beginning date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years. (1938 – 2000)

 

For that dash represents all the time

That he spent alive on earth…

And now only those who loved him

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 that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

 

So, when your eulogy’s being read

With your life actions to rehash…

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

 

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 504-881-0113, or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.