Musical Monday - What Will YOUR Dash Be?

Today the Embro Thistle Singers had the pleasure of taking part in the decoration service for the Embro Cemetery.  We sang at the Knox Presbyterian Church one block south of our "home" base at Knox United.  What a delightful group of people and a lovely building.  We really enjoyed our time.

Hurrah for the fabulous singers who came and did a great job adding to the service by singing the hymns and Oh Canada as well as our contribution of Because We Believe, Hallelujah and You Raise Me Up.  The music was an important part of the service but the part that made it really special was Anne Hollis' message.

She said that as a child she often visited the pioneer cemetery near her home and wondered what people had done with their lives.  On the tombstones, you see the dates of birth and death and all the rest is represented by a small DASH.  Anne reminded us that it is up to us how we live that dash.

So have you always wanted to sing but weren't sure you could? Join a choir.  If you are afraid of a audition, find a community choir like ours that wants you if you are willing to learn and work with the team.  Whatever you do, don't let your music go unsung.  My lifelong dream is to conduct an orchestra.  I will do that.

Thank you Anne for another wonderful message.  Thank you

If music is a passion then make it happen for you.  Don't let your dash not be filled with all that is in your heart.

Here is the poem, How Do You Live Your Dash?.  As with many poems that say great things, it is by Anonymous.

HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR DASH?

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 her date of birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years. (1934-1998)

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.

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’s actions to rehash…

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Author Unknown…