In the Cemetery

There was a person in his old age, a member of our BEC, a bedridden grandfather. I never seen him before in my younger days and youth, even forget, has his name ever been mentioned?
But somehow the old timers new; the senior members of our Christian community - I hardly see anyone who is not senior. They seemed to know him well.

Today he was in his coffin, grandeur of white furnishing, in an unending sleep with four white candles at his four corners, his picture before his remains, a cross as a background.



"I hear the voice of people all around me, some wailing, others in solemn silence. I awoke from my sleep to investigate out of curiosity only to find myself lying, not on my bed but a wooden box. I see my own face, my chest, and my face - a sight unprecedented. They were all there, my family, relatives, friends, my son beside me in black and my ever lovely wife."

"I suddenly notice a group coming closer to me, and a priest in his robes with a book in his hand, started to mumble something. Suddenly I saw a light filling me with such warmth and solace, I could have dance, out of overwhelming joy - a prayer, in my moments of desolation."




On the second day after his death, I exited the PJ crematory, never knowing what had happened - forcing my lids open was the only thought, leaving behind me the ending of a life that had gone hand in hand with time, decades long. He was the person who I visited when dad gave Holy Communion even if he hasn't the ability to chew. It was yesterday "he had gone hallelujah". Pray for me, if you are in Heaven.

Then I suddenly remember, Fr. Phillip Mutu announcing in today's mass that a Form 5, seventeen-year-old boy passed away in an accident tragedy. I am one year older than him and may have seen him before in Sunday school…