FUNERALS THAT MATTER

Yesterday was a special and meaningful day in my life. I attended the funeral of my friend’s mother. Funerals are occasions that are laced with an abundance of pain and grief. Sometimes the pomp of funerals demonstrate more regard for the vanity of the living than the honour of the dead. The grief mixed with the pomp and pageantry at some funerals can sometimes be so agonizing that you long and yearn for the benediction in order to beat a hasty retreat. There are some funerals that after the tributes and eulogy have ended those present begin to wonder if they attended the wrong funeral.

The funeral of Zettie Vernon was far from being torturous or pompous as the east is from the west. Attending this funeral was a blessing that God bestowed on me that I didn’t deserve. The ceremony was well structured without being officious. I met Mother Zettie all over again and am convinced that the dead have voices. Her life spoke eloquently of her passion for God and the work of God, her love and care for people and her commitment to truth and fairness. Zetty was both a Mary and a Martha. This was echoed by all who spoke. Those who gave tributes struggled with words, not because they couldn’t find what to say but to the contrary, they had so much that they could say. All who participated directly knew her personally. There were no paid mourners. Those who were in attendance who didn’t know mourned because they felt cheated to have missed out on relating to one of Jesus’ friend.
There was a spirit of worship at the service. I couldn’t help but reflect on the words of Job, ‘the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord’. The name of the Lord was indeed exalted through melodious singing, passionate soul stirring preaching and exuberant praise. The Hymn ‘Great Is thy Faithfulness’ took on new meaning as it was rendered with genuineness and great skill. Mother Vernon had an overflow of God’s presence in her life and this was evident even at her funeral.

I left the graveside of my friend’s mother in a very reflective mood. I pondered deeply about the legacy that I will leave behind for my children and for the next generation. Will those who come behind me find me faithful? I was reminded that in life people matter more than anything else. We came with nothing in the world and will leave with nothing but can leave behind inestimable and incalculable gifts for those whose lives we touched. Mother Vernon’s funeral has spurred me on to raise the quality of my life. She has caused me to confess that I have not paid enough attention to human relationships. She has placed me on a path of repentance. I have to pass where she lived everyday in order to reach my home. I know that the daily trek by her earthly house will be a constant reminder to me that if I live as the friend of God then in His time he will call me home and even angels will rejoice.

Zettie Vernon you have renewed my belief in the theological statement, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. I can hear you saying, “Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men”