AJ Hussey, you lived your 'dash' well

The events of last night’s church league softball games will be etched on the heart and minds of many who were present. Two of our area churches were playing one another and AJ Hussey, the pitcher for one of the Living Hope Baptist Church co-ed teams had just scored a run. As he made his way back to the dugout collapsed as he went to sit down. Those around him at first thought he simply missed the bench; AJ was funny and no one would have thought it weird if he indeed simply missed the bench. Then when he didn’t respond it was thought he was having a seizure. One of the umpires last night is a dear friend and deacon at the church I pastor. He is a former EMT and currently the head trainer of the men’s basketball program at WKU. He immediately discerned AJ was not having a seizure but likely something much worse and began administering CPR and chest compressions. Once the first responders arrived they took over but there would be no ‘reviving’ AJ Hussey; he was with his Lord. AJ was a youthful 59 and the competitive juices still flowed through him. While he never said it as such, I always thought AJ lived by the “Why bother playing the game if you are not going to try to win?” mantra. As I reflect on that today, isn’t that how we each should approach life? If I’m a child of God, shouldn’t my attitude be one of trying to be godly in this life in an effort to hear my Lord say “well done” when I one day stand before Him? AJ, much like me, wasn’t perfect. But I do believe he ran his race well, he fought the good fight, and he kept the faith. AJ will be sorely missed.

In the coming days stories will be told and retold, laughs will be shared, and tears will be shed. Last night I was once more confronted with the reality that life is short and death can be sudden. It’s not a matter of whether we will die but rather are we prepared to die. There is a poem entitled “The Dash” that I looked up today as I reflected on AJ’s life and the suddenness with which we can exit this life. Poet Linda Ellis penned these words in 1996:

​

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke 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 they spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real

and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. 

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,

remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

​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 spent YOUR dash?

Andrew “AJ” Hussey - July 5, 1956 - June 6, 2016. Well done AJ; you filled in your “dash” well.