The In-Between
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1
There were tears mixed with laughter at the dinner. There must have been three hundred people in attendance. All of them had come to share memories of the man they had laid to rest that morning.
He had not been a pillar of the community, nor was he well-known outside this circle. Yet his life and service had had a profound effect on the lives of those he’d touched. A philanthropist of sorts, he had given over seventy percent of his meager earnings to those in need. He’d held on loosely to what he had—it was his way of giving to the Lord. He never made it public, and would have denied any connection to the prosperity others enjoyed due to his generosity. He lived a simple life, in a simple home.
His wife had preceded him in death. He’d kept her memory alive by spending time doing things they’d done together; walking in the early morning dawn to watch the sunrise; or watching the eagles soar over the river-bottoms, so majestic and awe-inspiring. Simple, that was how he’d seen himself.
Yet these people knew him for who he really was. He’d shared generously with each of them somewhere between the day of his birth and today. They each had a personal story of his benevolence—together, they represented his in-between.
†
Gravestones are etched with the deceased’s date of birth and date of death. Between them is a small dash. That simple dash represents the life they lived. It’s their ‘in-between’. And what happened during their ‘in-between’ is how they will be remembered.
Paul was adamant that we live an in-between Jesus would be proud of. And I can think of nothing more comforting for our loved-ones at the time of our death than to be left with an in-between that brings them happy, loving memories.
We must be intentional in our commitment to live well. But with the Holy Spirit’s help we have the hope of achieving Paul’s instruction.
Prayer
“Spirit of God, lead me today. Show me how I might make a difference in the lives of those who need a special touch. Help me remain obscure at a time when my pride screams for recognition. Help me help others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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