One thing I love about FCA is how it ties our athletic lives into our faith. A lot of similarities can be drawn between Christianity and sports.

I own a funeral home, and I therefore attend a lot of funerals. One sermon I’ve heard a few times that I really like is about the dash. The dash that is talked about is the dash put on a headstone between the date of birth and the date of death. The point the pastor makes is that what is important is what is lived out in that dash between your date of birth and your date of death.

A few years ago I was driving by a vacant house. Apparently, the occupants had recently moved out. Left on the side of the curb was a cardboard box that contained a couple of trophies. That really struck me. How many times do we shoot to earn trophies or medals and, years later, they end up either somewhere we can’t find them or in the trash. I like to stress at our FCA meetings that it’s all about how you play the game, live out your life or how you live your dash.

I don’t disagree with athletics in that someone wins and someone loses. A lot can be learned from both. You are not always going to win in life, so be ready when you don’t. But when you do, enjoy it and take it for what it is.

So many professional athletes today always look so angry. You know who I’m talking about: the ones who dunk on someone or put a hit on one someone to knock them out of the game. Why can’t they celebrate the blessings God has given them and help someone up when they are down? They never know when they might be the next one down with someone standing over them.

Today, remember: it’s all about the dash. I’ve never heard people at a funeral celebrating about the possessions of the deceased—how many fancy cars and houses they accumulated or how much money they have in the bank. It’s always about their character, how many people they have touched and, usually, how they have committed their life to Christ and lived their dash in a way that brings praise and glory to God. So, now it’s up to you. What are you going to do with your dash?