Human life: Defined by a Simple Dash....

I am sure that at one time or another, we have all walked through a cemetery and looked at the various tombstones and monuments there. They come in many shapes and sizes, and are of varying degree of cost. Yet they all have one thing in common: each stone will contain a name of someone who has departed this life and in all likelihood, a date of birth and a date of death, often separated by a simple dash (1954-2025).  Have you ever considered how important that small dash is? In essence, it represents the ENTIRETY OF A PERSON’S LIFE!  

For many, life consists of living comfortably and enjoyably.   It focuses solely on possessions and pleasures.   We follow the terrible example of the rich fool in Christ’s famous parable, who concerned himself with building bigger and better barns to store his good, so that he could continue to “eat, drink and be merry.”    Yet in the end, as the saying goes:   “You can’t take it with you.”   When the Lord demands our very soul – when He passes judgment on us – what will really matter is how we’ve spent our “dash time.”  

The true challenge of life is that we never know how close we are to inserting that dash between the two most significant dates of our existence. Every day should be lived as if it were to be our last. Every day should find us taking advantage of the many opportunities placed before us to live in the manner our Lord expects us to live. When your eulogy is being read, how will your “dash” be remembered!  

The above is in Memory of Fr. Michael Rosco, longtime writer of “The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin” and is reprinted by permission from Vestal Printing Co, 280 Cliffwood Ave, in Cliffwood, New Jersey (732-583-3232) who published “The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin.” (https://commercial-printing-services.cmac.ws/vestal-publishing-co/27634/ 

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in October including: Daniel Kary, Marie Baron and Maya Columbus on Oct. 10;  Helena Czech Oct. 22; and Lauren Silvestre Oct. 25. May God grant each of them a very Happy Birthday and Many Years!

Many thanks to all those who reliably donate to our food pantry. Remember that Thanksgiving and Christmas donations will soon be needed to fill our baskets for our less fortunate neighbors. Your help is greatly appreciated.