I attended the funeral of a neighbor. And as I sat near the back of the room, I watched in reverent silence as the family grieved together and comforted one another. Surrounding the man's coffin, were dozens of bouquets and floral arrangements. There were tables displaying framed photographs of he and his loved ones. And there was an American flag draped over the front of the long, silver casket, as he was a Vet of the Korean War. I pondered the life he must have led. And then I was struck when the officiating priest read this poem. Perhaps you will take something away from it today. The Dash by Linda Ellis 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 the date of her birth And spoke of the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth And now