The End? Dash, Period, Ellipsis

In one of my favorite movies, Gladiator, Russell Crowe plays Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier who becomes a gladiator. The opening scene is the final conquest of the tribes of Germania. While the infantry attacks from the front, Maximus leads the cavalry in attacking their rear flank. As he leads his men into battle he says to them, “Men, what we do in life echoes in eternity!” In other words, your deeds today will be remembered forever and will affect you in your next life.

In her poem The Dash, Linda Ellis speaks about the importance of the dash on our tombstone, what separates the date of our birth and death. She says, “So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?” Is she right? Is Maximus right? Join us Sunday as we consider how death changes the meaning of life for the Christian and why Christ’s resurrection changes everything!