A Time for Reflection

Yesterday afternoon, I went to a funeral for the husband of a friend of mine.  Although, I didn't know him at all, I sure felt like I did when I left mass. From everything that was spoken about him I deduced that he was an avid Notre Dame fan, enjoyed running, was a devoted family man, was active in the Lions and prioritized the Church.  His family was obviously very sad, and I was glad that there was a dinner at the King of Kings building afterward where they could be comforted by family and friends.

Because Doug was still home recovering from kidney stones, I left right after mass.  The funeral, however, stayed with me all day.  It wasn't the sadness of it or even the thought of death, but instead the fact that a funeral is a reflection of what is most important to someone during their lifetime.  Thus, funerals are beautiful when a person has had a fulfilling life with a large number of loved ones around at the end, especially when they have a strong faith in God.  The pictures, the songs, the eulogies have so much meaning during those funerals and in the end feel more bittersweet than sad.

The reverse, though, can be almost unbearable.  No one wants to sit through a funeral of someone who spent most of their life thinking only of themselves.  The pictures are few, the remarks are short, and the homily can be impersonal.  The sadness felt by those in attendance isn't for the loss of life as much as it is for a wasted life.  Unfortunately, it is more common than anyone cares to admit, as highlighted by the Beatles song "Eleanor Rigby."

The good part about all of this is that anyone can change their life at any moment.  God promises this throughout scripture and almost all families could be reconciled through kindness, generosity and support.  Even demonstrating one of those virtues goes a long way in repairing differences.  Thankfully, most people that I know need never to worry about regrets.  That was the best part about yesterday's funeral, remembering that living a life filled with kindness and joy is always worth it.