THE SMALL HYPHEN WE LEAVE BEHIND

The small hyphen on our tombstones

represent the journey

how we have lived

how we will be remembered.

Today’s Gospel was from John 17:20-26 and Deacon Clement, in His homily, touched on death.  

He spoke about what is typically inscribed on tombstones - the date of birth, the date of death, and the small hyphen in between.

He offered that the two dates do not matter as much as that small dash in between the dates - what is most important is the hyphen.  

For the hyphen represents the person’s journey of life -  how he had lived his life and what he will be remembered for.

It is not about wealth or health, the number of houses or the types of cars he owned, nor where he had traveled to…. The hyphen represents the kind of life he lived - the kindness, love and compassion he shared, the family, friendships and bonds he fostered and the difference he made to the lives of others.

In our lives today, are we making a positive difference to those around us.  Will our life - our hyphen - represent us being a pain, or a blessing, to those we leave behind?