Funeral
A great album by Arcade Fire... I got this a while ago, but it's been on a heavy rotation on my iPod the past few days. Last Tuesday, I got words that one of my friends, passed away from a heart attack, and I was in Los Angeles over the weekend to attend the funeral. For some reason, the themes from many of the songs resonated with the weekend.
A Korean proverb goes: "Tigers leave behind their fur; people leave their legacy"
Displayed prominantly near the casket at the funeral service were the artifacts that were supposed to represent the various aspects in his life that was supposed to define the friend. Among the things: his PhD diploma, picture from his wedding, his snowboard, bottle of whiskey. Ironically, what really defined who he was, and how he lived, was not on the stage; but the congregation that gathered for the service... the friends and family who carried little artifacts of him in their grieving hearts.
One of my best friends was also at the funeral, and as I sat among the congregation, with my hand wrapped around his shoulder to comfort him in his grieving (he was sobbing like a little girl), it occured to me that, I too, am storing up the artifacts of my life in the souls of the friends and family. What really matters, I am humbly reminded, is not what might inevitably be unpacked for a few hours from packing crates to be displayed with my casket.
A huge crowd gathered to honor his memories -- a true testament to how he's lived. May your soul find itself in the company of the saints and other believers in heaven. I will always remember you as one of the most genuine people I've ever met in my life.
A Korean proverb goes: "Tigers leave behind their fur; people leave their legacy"
Displayed prominantly near the casket at the funeral service were the artifacts that were supposed to represent the various aspects in his life that was supposed to define the friend. Among the things: his PhD diploma, picture from his wedding, his snowboard, bottle of whiskey. Ironically, what really defined who he was, and how he lived, was not on the stage; but the congregation that gathered for the service... the friends and family who carried little artifacts of him in their grieving hearts.
One of my best friends was also at the funeral, and as I sat among the congregation, with my hand wrapped around his shoulder to comfort him in his grieving (he was sobbing like a little girl), it occured to me that, I too, am storing up the artifacts of my life in the souls of the friends and family. What really matters, I am humbly reminded, is not what might inevitably be unpacked for a few hours from packing crates to be displayed with my casket.
A huge crowd gathered to honor his memories -- a true testament to how he's lived. May your soul find itself in the company of the saints and other believers in heaven. I will always remember you as one of the most genuine people I've ever met in my life.
posted by choongster at 11:05 PM
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