Notes from Above

Chisel

He lays the chisel down.
Today's work is done, for now.
He knows it could be tomorrow, next week or decades from now before the ending dates are chiseled into this granite.
'Chiseled', if only that much humanity were given to something so important instead of the machines that are replacing him.
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He stares at 'the dash'.
He wonders if he's making the most of his today.
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Some days, he feels like it's just a shallow faint line, like a mountain faded into the horizon.
Other days, when he's feeling grateful, the granite chiseled for his dash will need to be deep.
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He smiles when he thinks of the ones carved near 'Loving Wife' or 'Devoted Father'.
He shudders at the thought of the little dash he carved yesterday for a child.
He thanks God, for the ones carved for fallen soldiers and prays for those who made poor choices.
Those taken quickly and those who suffered with disease.
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He knows it's good for business, but is concerned with this worlds selfish notion of "You Only Live Once".
Then again, he made a lot of rash decisions growing up and somehow survived.
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But he wonders how will people look back and remember him?
He thinks, 'Everyone has the same size dash carved in between their birth and death on their tombstone, what life can I pack into mine?'
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He asks himself these questions-
Today, did I live & learn?
Did I pray for and praise those who need it?
Did I lead the lost and follow the Golden Rule?
Inspire and teach those willing to listen?
Did I laugh at myself and love unconditionally?
Did I selflessly give hope to someone who needed it?
Am I leaving this world better than I found it?
Did I breathe life into someone and help someone smile?
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It's a lot to live up to, but if he just did one thing today, he will be able to look back and say, "Thank you , Lord for guiding me. I am a good man and I lived today."
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What life are you packing into your dash?

March 2015

Inspiration from
http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html