"How You Livin'?"
It was an untimely death. Then again, it's always or never a good time to die. One thing for sure is that it was unexpected. Death came for him swiftly, leaving in its shadow that signature reminder of how tempral and momentary this life is. If the Universe is a stage, this life is indeed our 15 minutes of fame. No matter how grand the performace, the spot light will eventually go dim, and the curtains will inevitably close. This funeral was in many ways a standing ovation - and encore.
He was always cracking jokes, making wise remarks, and playing tricks. And everyone who came up to speak on his behalf was no different. I've never heard so much laughter, and candid remarks about the dead body in the room, as I did that evening. Each speaker spared no cheap shots in challenging the previous speaker, donning themselves as the more accurate reporter of personal accounts concerning the deceased and memories passed. We sang, we smiled, we laughed. There wasn't much room for sadness in the presence of such Joy. He was good company, and he kept himself in good company.
The preacher opened his eulogy with a question that I present to myself today, and to anyone amongst the survived. "How You Livin'?", he posed with enthusiastically wide and questioning eyes. Rightfully so. Our lives often get hijacked by ideals that are foreign to our soul, but common to our surroundings.
Am I enjoying this life? What am I doing to experience happiness in this life? Am I postponing pleasure or withholding it from myself? I dare to suggest that we believe we have to earn joy, pleasure, and happiness. Some of us don't believe we deserve to be happy, to be loved, to have; we feel we haven't earned it. If I'm honest, I think that way. Like, in theory I know I deserve these things but, my lack of resistance when I'm made to live without these things and my willingness to go without these things questions my true awareness of that which is my birthright in this life.
Fortunately, the preacher prescribed for us this short check list for a rich and fulfilling life which served as a reminder I now leave with you:
• Leave your comfort zone
• Discover your passion
• Take Risks
• Get Spritually Connected
The book of Ecclesiastes (which is probably my favorite book in the Bible) eloquently states what I myself now confess to be true.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted......He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God."