A funeral

A friend passed away in a horrible car accident two Tuesdays ago. He and two colleagues were travelling in a Land Cruiser wagon towards Nabawan when it hit a truck. Mr Lau, the front passenger was killed on the spot. The two others sustained serious injuries.

Mr Lau leaves behind a wife and 3 schooling children. Both his parents are still around. A brief funeral was held on Thursday early morning, and then the body was sent to KK for burial. Church members held a memorial service at their home on Sunday.

Think of it, life is pretty fragile, isn't it. One can't tell when is his time to move on. There's a saying, 'Coffins are not made for the elderly; they're made for the dead'.

During the memorial service, I asked an uncle (who sells chicken in the market) "so... today didn't open stall ka?". He said, "Got. Closed early. Nowadays just do a bit of business, enough la. Do a lot also, can just go like that anytime". I suppose he meant he would rather spend time doing things he enjoyed or spending time with his family. By the way, he likes to trap birds, go hunting, and cooking roti canai and chicken curry.

Actually I enjoy going to funerals. It makes me face of the reality of life: that no matter how great is one's achievements in this world, the day will come when he lies motionless in a coffin and leaves everything behind. Poor or rich, weak or powerful, they end the same way. Attending a funeral is a humbling experience, reminding me of the vulnerability of life, and that day will come when all things will go to pass.

People buy insurance for many things that MIGHT happen: accidents, loss of income, critical illnesses, permanent disabilities etc, life insurance too. But there's one thing that will DEFINITELY happen, which many people don't consider much about: death. I don't mean the amount of wealth we leave to our loved ones if we say 'goodbye' prematurely. I mean, the finding out of what happens after our death, whether there's judgement day or not, how to opt to go to heaven or hell, how is life after death... things like that. Aren't those too worth spending time to seriously consider and take care of?

As for Mr Lau's family, though mourning over his sudden demise, is rest assured that he has gone to a much better place. There is no need for monks to chant mystical prayers for his safe passage in the after-life, or to burn hell bank notes (as if assuming he's in hell?) to bribe the hell-guards, or whatsoever. Mr Lau has his assurance of heaven well taken care of.

The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life---you that believe in the Son of God.

1 John 5:11-13