Have you thought about what is going to happen after you die? I don't
mean heaven, hell, reincarnation, or oblivion. I mean what will your
friends and family do to commemorate your passing. A lot of people say,
"When I'm dead just..." but do they write down these wishes
(considering that they are not just joking)? The only people I know who have
any of that sort of thing recorded are octogenarians. So, I've been to
a number of funerals and memorials that would have sent the honored
person into convulsions. Usually what happens is that a person dies and
the service to commemorate them is about Jesus. Funerals are for the
living, and Jesus does make some people feel better. But I think it's
basically wrong to take a heathen or atheist and, once they're dead,
turn their memorial service into a sermon.
My family throws a
hell of a good funeral, but we rely heavily on the traditional
Protestant service. I'd like to spare any of my friends and family from
this sort of thing when (and IF) my time comes. My immediate family
wouldn't Jesus it up to spite me but they might not have a clear idea of
how to plan a humanist service. I thought I would make an outline of
the basics-- a few songs, passages from literature or poetry, etc. I
trust that they would keep it to the minimum of praying and advertising
for Jesus. My husband's family, however, I could not trust to follow my
wishes. So I guess I hope my family gets to me first.
What
song/songs would you like played at your funeral or memorial service?
Do you have any particular passages or poems that you would like to have
read? Have you picked out any causes to list for memorial donations?
How much of this stuff does the normal(ish) person have established up
front? Are you normal(ish)?
I don't mean to seem morbid and this
is not a plea for help. I repeat, this is not a plea for help. I am
just pondering. What say you?
Recent Comments