Hmmm. Life. WITH GRATITUDE TO THE Almighty for a life well spent... And so begins the financial ruin of the chief mourner, whose father, mother or close relation has passed on to the great beyond. Since in every case. the living are so sure that the departed is sitting at the right hand of the Creator, elaborate reparations are made to celebrate the event. First, the body is sent to the mortuary to cool off for the next 2-3 months! Then begins feverish preparations to erect a befitting country home for the occasion Overnight, an elegant edifice springs up. Thus where the departed lived in a ramshackle mud house, an elegant building now stands ready to receive the dead body and cater for the nervous guests who have come to pay their last respect to the dead who they hardly knew! But the obituary explains it all...we announce the passing away of the father of our chairman...after brief illness(all illnesses are brief!) even though the poor fellow spent his last few years wasting away in penury and probably died of malnutrition, lack of elementary care or even of a broken heart, and in rear cases of old age! This next stage lets you know of his offspring. Children Chief so and so chairman XY bank, Dr... Engr.... Master.... England Miss...USA. And a formidable team of grand children. Alas the d- day finally arrives, everything is lavish and elaborate. From the aso- joke in the high noon- to the sermon which is full of praises, all the good deeds, real and imaginary are generously recounted. Finally, the officiating priest come to the conclusion- and passes judgment- the departed is already enjoying the kingdom of Heaven A brief ceremony at the grave side and some 10 minutes later, the graveside is empty. Everyone has hurried off to the newly refurbished/ rebuilt residence for the socials. Even the distant relation who was hysterical and only a few minutes ago was threatening to join in with the departed has miraculously recovered and is now dancing with abandon to the music of many numerous bands already at play. But to the graveside, what do you see? The departed is left alone! Alas, he is not dead, he sees all his relations and friends hurry away from the scene. he calls out to them, touches them, but they are unaware of his presence. He follows them back to the house, and what he sees fills him with disgust. Is that his house? Now beautifully decorated or even rebuilt. And how about all the food, drinks lavish spending. More money is spent one day of merriment than he was ever given in his life time. Those who a while ago were apparently beside themselves with grief are now dancing with abandon and being sprayed with money as if the Naira has suddenly got out of fashion. All these for him? Who never had more than a pittance all his life? In disgust he pulls away, and commences his journey into the beyond. Far from resting in peace or sitting at the right or left hand of a throne, he is now faced with his deeds, in accordance with the harvest of the seeds he has sown during his earthly existence! - BY FESTUS UNUIGBE.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:27:01 +0000
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