Today I went to a funeral - a beloved grandfather-figure passed away just a few days ago. There were a few tears, but more laughter as we remembered the life of a person who was (in the words of one speaker) "a real hard case". Family and friends praised and commemorated him, as his body lay abandoned in a casket at the front of the church.
It was good for all of us to have the time to say goodbye properly - after all, funerals honour the dead but they are primarily for the living. Don't you ever wish though that you could have your funeral before you died? I mean, everyone thanks you and praises you and says how grateful they are and they tell funny stories about your life - but you're dead. One would, I'd imagine, be preoccupied with a different set of priorites. But while we're on Earth we do like to be honoured and appreciated, and contrary to the opinion of many it is good for us. People become egotists when no one values them, and they're left to puff themselves up. If we had more funerals for living subjects, there probably wouldn't be as many untimely deaths to mourn. Our society is familiar with the concept of 'celebrating life' but we all too often neglect to 'celebrate a life' until it's too late. Never underestimate the power of honour and praise. Flattery will degrade the recipient and eventually come back to bite you, but if you "give honour where honour is due", the consequences are unforseeable - and always good.
3 comments:
That’s exactly how I feel. If they have my funeral after I’m dead I’ll feel like I’ve missed the party. I’d rather get together with everyone for one last shindig before it’s too late.
21st parties seem to be a bit like an early funeral. I wasn’t expecting it to be but mine was (apart from the riotous fun). The difference is you haven’t really achieved anything at 21. That’ll do for me though. Stuff the funeral.
It was a really beautiful funeral. I'm gonna miss that guy, but we will always remember his smile, wit, and charm,
Maybe we can do that for each other at 70, after we've got most of our life behind us. I mean, how cool would that be? (Makes mental note to self that one must try to live to 70)
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