Friday, April 3, 2009

ATTENDED A FUNERAL!

My friend Mathew’s father passed away and I attended the funeral ceremony. He was 68 years old. Due to his heavy smoking, his lungs collapsed and he died .Smokers beware! May his soul rest in peace. May God grant his family the courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss.





We are all born to die one day. We will not take anything from this world. It doesn’t mean that we should not use our God given talents to become rich and famous. We are accountable to God for the use of our talents. We cannot give excuses for our failure.

When we are young, we think we will never die. As we grow older the thought of death sometimes enters our minds. One day we suddenly realize that death is upon us and staring at our face and then ---- we are gone!

YOU ARE DUST AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.

Oh! Why am I talking about death so much? We are not born to die! Are we? We will live forever!
What do you think?

17 comments:

Mel said...

Greetings, Joseph! Your post reminded me of this verse:

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2

Ecclesiastes is full of meditations such as these. It is important to think about this precious life we have, and making sure we're not wasting it. But in light of eternity, this little life is like a puff of smoke, and our real life will truly begin on the other side of the veil... That's what I believe anyway. God bless you, dear friend! I'll be praying for your friend and his family during their time of grief, loss and transition.

Catherine said...

You spoke about death, Joseph, because you attended a funeral.
That means preparing family and friend to the loss of the body of their loved one. The "sad dust story".
Concerning his spirit, it is yet present in friend and family's own memory. The dead person lives by his virtual presence in each mind of the people who knew him.
Speaking about the soul of the dead person is a study about theology. It depends on our belief.

Hope you'll keep always your friend in your heart, Joseph, for him to continue to live among the living.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I am so sorry for your loss.
My late husband used to be a smooker then decided to kick the habit.25 years later he had lung cancer which led to terminal brain cancer. Yes we are all born to die,
but what we make of our lives is our own doing, so we have to think about living every day . we all know death is waiting but it's sad to dwell on it.
I think the photo's you took did your friend justice.
May he "REST IN PEACE"

Yvonne.

Frank de Jol said...

Very smart and beautifully written.

Femin Susan said...

sorry to hear that your friends' father passed away. It is write smoking leads to death. If we do something great we will not die in the hearts of others.(eg:mother Theresa)

Leo said...

The earth does not belong to us. It is we who belong to the earth.

Amrita said...

Sorry for the grieving family.Funeral photos make me so sad, but remind me of how fragile life is and precious.

OUr bodies are the temple of God we ought to take good care of them- stay away from things which harm our health.

I often warn tobacco chewers and smokers that they are in danger.

Judy said...

So sorry for your loss. I used to smoke and quit several years ago. I will never pick one up again! We should take care of ourselves instead of helping death along.

FCB said...

Hi Joseph,
I'm sorry to hear of your friends loss of his father. Regardless of age, the loss of a parent is very difficult.
It is a somber thing to attend a funeral, it brings death so close and we can't help but ponder our lives with a more critical eye. May we live each day as it were the last is a common saying, and if we did I'm sure we would be far better off. May he rise with Christ and be reunited with his family one day.
God bless Joseph,
Fred

Manivannan Sadasivam said...

Sorry to know about your friend's death sir. But Krishna says death is like changing of clothes. We change our bodies to experience the different dimensions of life. That's why I think even Jesus says to pass this world like walking on a bridge...am I right?

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Thanks for the visit and lovely comment. When my friend text me saying her husband had dropped dead
I fleww from Spain to Belfast N. Ireland that day and stayed with her for the duration of the coming days and funeral.....she was my friend and needed help. I returned to her when his ashes were being scattered. We had some concerts planned long before her husband died so went back 6 months later.
We went to the concerts as the photo shows,On my return I phoned to say thanks forher hospilality
to be told she don't want you anymore. Some months later my son
was diagnosed with cancer , my first thought was my friend, I needed someone to talk with.
I wrote a letter but have never heard from her again.
That Jospeth is all I know.

Yvonne.

Margaret Cloud said...

Joseph, I am saying a prayer for Mathew's father, too bad people will not stop smoking and they do harm people around them with their second hand smoke. You know we start toward death from the very first breath we take until our last. It is sad to think of, many are taken from this earth before their time by many types of accidents. Thank you for coming by and have a nice Sunday.

Catherine said...

Have you celebrated Palm Day, which in fact is flowers Day for you (If I've weel-read) ?
Here, we celebrate it with box tree branches, not as beautiful, but the signification is the same.
Have a nice week, Joseph.

(If, one day, I came in Kerala, you can be sure I'll come by a roundabout way to Kochi. Just do the same in Paris : )

Michelle said...

It looks like it was a beautiful service.

hpy said...

Hello, and thanks for your visit.
Death is a natural thing, something that awaits all of us. Therefore I think we should do our best to have a good life - we cannot change it once we're dead.
Some of us will be remembered, some not, or at least less. But it's better that people remember us for the good we did, instead of the bad. Isn't it?

Rhapsody Phoenix said...

Namaste......
hmmmmmmm.....human vices, we all have them, some smoke, some drink, some are workaholics and the lists go on. It would see that cultivating bad habits is one of human beings inherent flaws. Once developed it an herculean task to undo some are successful at turning things around after many starts and stops while others buckle under the emotional tumultuousness the wanting change brings and surrender in defeat or like in the case of your friend is taken before the battle is won. My condolences for your and his family lost.

In response to your statement of BREVITY, sometimes it's enough.

Have a fabulous day my friend and the inability to prepare meals/sandwiches can no longer be blamed on your mother as one is never to old to learn. Learning only stops when one is dead. Challenge yourself and send your palette on a new adventure and discover what just maybe a hidden talent (cooking). Though I suspect it is not a latent desire lol, lol..

FCB said...

Hi Joseph, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I always find funerals a very sobering affair, we are faced with our mortality and how suddenly it can overtake us. I hope his family is comforted and you as well.
God bless,
Fred