This is part of a series shared ecumenically with members to whom I was assigned; the goal was to start conversation and deep thought, and many of these messages led to great conversations.
Make Your Dashes Count
Original Publication Date: 9 January 2025
As we remember Jimmy Carter we are reminded that all human beings get a birthdate and a deathdate and a little dash in the middle. For Jimmy Carter it was 1924 – 2024. Many people are remembering President Carter for the impact he had in their lives, both nationally and personally. If you’re the only president to date to live to 100, or your life is shorter, that little dash tells a story that belongs to your life. Many people have said, “Make your dash count.”
Biography is one of my favorite literary styles because we get to see how those dashes have motivated, encouraged, impacted, and intersected with others, and it recently jumped out at me that each of us gets more than one dash. Jimmy Carter had a dash for his life, but also one for his presidency 1977 – 1981, and a dash for his Navy service 1946 – 1961; we could also look at dashes for his education, marriage, fatherhood, volunteer service, and church membership, etc.
In the Air Force, we can consider people like Hap Arnold 1886 – 1950, John Cannon 1892 – 1955, Esther Blake 1897 – 1979, Robin Olds 1922 – 2007, Jerry Hodges 1925 – 2024 and a host of many others who have another dash that represents their active service to the Air Force. We have that dash in common. But our dashes impact and intersect with other people that theirs cannot and maybe do not (If you don’t know those stories I encourage you to look them up). Our dashes make differences in ways that are just as important, only to different people.
A couple years ago a popular non-official Air Force social media site asked, “How have you made the Air Force a better place?” I loved the question, but I did not love the answers. Many of the answers were cynical, talking about just showing up on time, or doing their job to the minimum requirements, and a surprising number of answers talked about earning a DD-214 (separation paperwork) as how they made the service better. If we only get one dash in the Air Force and another on this earth, how can we make sure we don't waste them and instead make them count?
Are you making your dashes count? How are you making the Air Force a better place? My Air Force dash started in 2003 – but it's not over yet, and I hope being your chaplain helps to make your dash, and my dash, more meaningful.
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who were helped by you and loved by you will remember you when the flowers have faded. Write your name on hearts, not on marble. ~ Charles Spurgeon 1834 – 1892
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