What's in Your Dash?

The Lesson

This past month has been a real challenge. Three funerals: two family members and one member my church.

These events are always sad. Doesn’t matter how old the person or how great the life. There is no way around it.

One of the funerals was for an 83 year old friend of the family named Bill. To know Bill, is to know a true, down to earth family man. He loved his family and he loved his friends like family. Bill’s family is quite large. It is the type of family that gets together for every holiday, anniversary, and birthday to celebrate and spend time with one another.

During the funeral the pastor passed the microphone around so that members of the audience could share their personal memories of Bill. I only knew Bill in his years of old age and poor health, but upon hearing the stories that his friends and family told, it was clear that I really missed out. It turns out Bill touched many lives with his humor, friendship, service to his country, and service to God. The phrase “family man” came up time and time again.

At Bill’s graveside service the pastor read the poem, The Dash:

The Challenge

This week your challenge is to find at least 15 minutes of alone time to reflect on your dash. Ask the question, “What will that little line between my date of birth and date of death mean when it is all said and done?”

If you want to be remembered as a family man, are you doing family man activities? If you want to be remembered as a steward of the community, are you doing steward of the community activities? If you want to be remembered as a good employee, is your walk matching your talk?

The Reflection

With all the demands that modern life presents, how do you keep family front and center in your life?

You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor

To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge™, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.

About collector mentor
Published bimonthly, collector mentor is a quick-read publication dedicated entirely to delivering articles and practical advice that teaches credit and collection professionals how to increase collection results, enhance productivity, improve teamwork, and become better stewards of the industry.