The Funeral

Even though we are quite tired and more than ready for bed we decide the right thing to do is to go. Three of us climb into the car and I manoeuvre  down the dirt road. We drive for a couple of kilometres before the road turns into something resembling a goat track. I push on but after a while decide it is too much and we get out to cover the remaining couple of kms by foot. It is pitch back and we only have one small torch, lighting our path through the maize fields, over the hills, across a river and in the direction of the music. A clearing to the right of the road opens up into space where a crowd are seated in a semicircle facing a group of rhythmical dancers. The grieving family are surrounded by friends, neighbours and family, and selected people speak about how he was such a good dancer and singer and such an integral part of the church choir. A church member gives some encouraging words, bible passages are read and prayers are said. We stay until after midnight before bidding farewell and heading home to return in the morning.
 
Festus was only in his 20s, his family are extremely poor. He had decided to go to college to study masonry and was blessed enough to be sponsored to do so, however he complained of sickness which continued to worsen until he had to be hospitalised and then tragically last week he could fight no longer and cancer took him. 

There is a resounding thud as the first spadeful of dirt hits the tin covering the coffin at the bottom of the hole. My eyes well up as I watch the muscly lad in his 20s feverishly shovelling spadeful after spadeful of dirt into the hole, covering the body of his friend. He is working hard and fast as if the physical labour will provide a distraction from the pain inside. Earlier on in the funeral he spoke about how much he loved and will miss his friend... People in their 20s shouldn't be burying their friends! 

Why? Why? Why? I look around at the crowd of people gathered for his burial. His mentally disabled uncle, his shattered mother, stoic brothers and weeping classmates. Why would God take someone when they are so young and seemingly full of life!?! 

A wise king once said it is better to go to a funeral than a feast (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Today I feel I understand a little about what he meant. Funerals are a graphic reminder to us that our life now is short and every day we live is a gift from God. It really puts life into perspective and makes you motivated to act while you can.