by
EVANGELIST BEE
EVANGELIST BEE
The casket was being wheeled to the final resting place as I heard the song again in my native tongue –
‘A o pade leti odo, odo didan odo didan na, pelu awon mimo leba odo ...”
This is a song that is very common in funeral services in my native community. I later got the English version from a covenant friend as " Shall We Gather at the River ". It talks about the hope of meeting at the other side of death. When people sing it, very few eyes remain dry! Sing it in any other context and everyone will become sober instantly. A lot of people want to go to Heaven but no one wants to die. I attended the burial of a friend’s Dad and I learnt some very salient lessons which I would like to share. They nudge me. The exhort me. They encourage me. Burials make you see through yourself. They make you ask questions no one else can ask you and get same answers. The things I was reminded at the burial are stated below:
1. PUT THE END IN MIND
I learnt a long time ago from Steven Covey Original classic,“ 7 principles of highly Effective People” that the best way to set your goals is to put your end in mind. What would you want people to say at your funeral. I have taught it in many of my goal setting classes to singles and adults. If you want to set goals that will drive you for a long time, go to a funeral service with a pen and paper and ask – “ if I was the one in the Casket, who will people say that I am? what will people say that I did? For who will they say I did all I did? “ Whatever answers that comes from the depth of your heart should form the fundamentals of your aspirations and goals !Understanding the end makes the present worth the while.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
