Notes

Are Poems About Death Actually Poems About Life? Heaven Is Like A Rainbow
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funeral programs

When my wife's mother, "Grandma G," died, she left us many gifts and intangibles. She also left us something very tangible, that in the immediate hour of need, was her most thoughtful gift. She had prearranged and paid for her funeral in exacting detail. This single act, greatly lowered the magnitude of stress that her death had caused.

The Procession. It's also called the cortege. It's the procession from the funeral chapel, or church, to the grave site as a symbol of support by the public honoring the death. Our family and friends were led to the final resting place by the hearse containing the casket. The funeral home arranged a police escort for the procession and set up covered seating for family members at the grave site.

Jesus said something even more shocking earlier in this passage. He clearly proclaimed his divine nature to them. "If you knew me you would know my Father." (John 8:19) Jesus had made very plain to them that he and his Father were in perfect agreement as to what his purpose was when he took on humanity and came into this world. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him". (John 3:17) His enemies were shocked that Jesus would claim to be God, they were astonished that he claimed power to bring salvation to their souls. This was a day for them to remember because they had never heard any man utter such outrageous things.

Based on our experience, there was nothing more thoughtful that Grandma could have done. In the hour of humanity's greatest stress, Grandma had already lessened the trauma of dealing with funeral arrangements. And realistically, who better to make all the choices than her?

Each person deals with death in her own way. Some people are in denial. Some turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope. Some simply stay stuck in their grief. The key to the transition from the preoccupation of death to the fullness of life is to work through the feelings and through each stage.

How sad that a man had so much but so little. Michael had money, recognition, fame and in the end died in debt. Taken away in a plain white van and covered in a pure white sheet. No more glamour, lights and crowds. Just the crowds that mourned him. He had controversy, led a life of loneliness, sensitivity and silence. He gave us music but he lived in a silent world with his own personal demons.




Card or letter, phone calls or email. A card is always appreciated as it is a long-term keepsake. If you didn't know the person well, an email will suffice.

The beauty of death is that it takes us to the next step. Death is a revival of the faulty put to rest. And death only marks the beginning of our next journey. To this, I say the end is near and death marks the end, for change.

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