On Dying

"See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness, until word comes..." -David

It was a good day to be laid to rest. The beautiful thing about cremation is that practically it is cost conscious. I suppose historically it is the way of old kings (that is pagans of course). While watching, it occured to me that the hole was so small, a square in the ground. There was nothing to labor over. With a brush of your feet it was swept under ground.

It must have been like a funeral. That long line of mourners. David looked back to lament as he stood by the brook and watched his people pass by; 100, 200, 300... Life had taken an unlikely, no, it had taken an unsavory turn. Betrayed by his own flesh and blood. It has been said that only God knows how to love and hate at the same time. That is the gibberish of systematic theologians. I wish one could only love or hate. Then David might not have been so conflicted. His only recourse seemed to be those who rallied to his side and his god of course. The God upon whom he would wait and see. "Wait and see," of course out of the mouth of kings is a political statement. For David was already engineering his potential return. Give or take the will of God of course. But do not be so foolish to think that David was without will or intent. He ever and always will be a man of passion. He would plan, perhaps God would prosper. And he would wait in the desert.

The other day somebody walked over my grave (as an insult). If you find yourself visiting (not staying) a graveyard or attending a burial understand it is not impolite to stand upon others. They understand you are there to respect your dead. I have grown weary of death, but perhaps it has prepared me for death. What I have found is that death can be either noble or ignoble. It is all in how they lay you to rest. There is nothing worse than being hastily buried in a shallow grave by those who simply want to be through with you. Swept under the rug. If you are fortunate, you will be buried by those who love you and are like you. They are fond of his voice, long for the land and cherish the desert. In effect they understand. They will bury or burn you with blood, sweat and tears. It will purify their soul and if conducted appropriately will rise up to heaven as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Make it a big fire or a deep hole that will take time and callouses to fill (or build). Choose the way of the ancients, bury or burn your own dead. God forbid, you be swept under the rug. Sola, WHB