A 'Burial Ceremony' I Attended

Well, well, well. Let’s take a quick review of today. By the way, the time is 22:22 of 3^rd January, 2013 and few hours ago we just returned from Akatta, Oru East LGA Imo state, where my late grandfather was laid to rest today. He was aged, 95. Our prayer is that may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

I arrived the very busy and noisy scenario & was practically & literally turned off (busy & noisy places or events turns me off big time). I had to sneak in through the backyard (pitiable for me).

I sat down and started observing people & events. There were lots & lots of activities, here and there. Before now, I had already concluded in my spirit that I wasn’t going to be actively involved in the happenings that afternoon except I was specifically asked.

The events were colorful. The ceremonies were much. The merriment was excessive. It seriously got me thinking. Perhaps I may be mistaken, but I’ve trained my intuition to the point that I can trust it to give me correct answers to any perplexing situation.

I have formed a philosophy and together with my trusted intuition, WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE WAY BURIALS ARE DONE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, PERIOD. Actually, it’s really not about what ‘we’ accept or not. It’s about common sense and principles.

Custom or no custom, tradition or no tradition, courtesy or no courtesy; whatever be the reasons given, Merriments, Eating and Drinking; Music and Dancing; Feasting and the like SHOULD NEVER be part of a burial.

Where did we even learn this from? Please let me know if you are aware. Where before has there been feasting and merriments in a burial? I do not know much of history but I possess one history book which turns out to be THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPER CONDUCT-“THE HOLY BIBLE”.

In all the burials conducted in the Bible, I haven’t yet read of any one where there was merriment, eating and drinking. If you find one, kindly let me know; I’d be most willing to learn.

Burials are times of soberness and soberness ALONE. People weep and mourn for the dead for weeks after the loss. Of course, in ‘The Ultimate Guide to Proper Conduct’, you’ll find occasions of merriment in birthdays and weddings, but never in burials.

In case this may come as a blow to your beliefs, I want you to take some minutes to consider answering these questions:

• Is death a cause for eating and drinking AT ALL? What exactly is the very reason for the merriment? What are we eating for?

• Is it necessary to entertain friends and relatives who come to be with relatives of the deceased? Don’t they have foods and drinks in their homes or if they’re starving to death, can’t they go buy some food outside?

• Isn’t death & burial moments supposed to be moments of sober reflections?

• Does tradition and customs overrule scriptures, wisdom and common sense?

• In cases where the deceased is well advanced in years (just like my grandfather), does it still demand merriment? Why? For what exactly?

Someone might quickly argue, “We are celebrating the life, times and achievements of the deceased”. Really? Where did we learn to celebrate people only after their deaths? Can’t we celebrate them when they are still living? When they can still appreciate the fact that they contributed positively to people’s lives? Why wait till they are eternally asleep?

Well, I know some people must have quit reading this post by now. Some may think I’m being ridiculous. Well, I can cope with being ‘ridiculous’ as long as I think differently from the crowd; as long as I use my God-given intellect and common sense. Yeah, I understand, issues involving customs and traditions are delicate. But you see, you are a distinct individual and you are responsible for the decisions that you make; even the ones you allow others make for you. Use your God-given common sense, my friends.

Do you remember Moses, the Man of God? What happened when he died? Deut 34:5-12. How about Abraham, Isaac, Israel, even Christ Jesus? Any merriment at their deaths?

Someone might ask, ‘Why are you writing all these’. Are you saying we should stop conducting burials the way it has always been conducted?

Now that’s where I have a slight issue…’the way it has always been done’. I dislike this expression with all vehemence of emotion, because that kind of mentality prevents us from finding novel ways of doing things. It kills innovations and creativity. It makes the world stagnant & inhibits potentials.

Thank God there are people like us (& hopefully you) who question the way things have always been done. What makes you think those people who instituted such rules are the wisest of all people? What makes you think you’re not more intelligent than them?  I always advocate the use of simple common sense & reasoning.

You see, people seem to fail in the use of their common sense. They celebrate & merry both for those who did well and for those who didn’t do well. Mind you, neither case requires any form of merriment.

I’ve had scenes of people struggling for food & even getting drunk when as young as a 50 year old is being buried. What nonsense!!! Perhaps you should take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:1-4.

Have you ever taken time to think about your life, about eternity? Isn’t what we should be doing at burials?

In fact, I think I’m even fed up writing this. I’ve just given you a piece of information. A word is enough for the wise. Be responsible my friends. Make the correct choices. Use your common sense. Get some guide from reputable sources, most especially, ‘The Ultimate Guide to Proper Conduct’, The Holy Bible.

Gentlemen and ladies, I rest my case.