"IF THE DEAD CAN SEE"
FRACTURED FAMILY
" IF THE DEAD CAN SEE"
There is a biblical quote, "There is no existence in the grave". This scriptural cliche is attributed to famous and wisest king Solomon. The interactions between Lazarus the pauper and the opulent man in the scripture, also gave credence to the fact that there is cessation of life after death. As the rich man got divine justice after death, he was assigned the hottest part of hell. In this area of intense and extreme dryness and hotness, he realized his folly and mistake. He became very thirsty in the midst of lake of unquenchable fire. As he looked over the chasm or gulf separating him from the poor beggar Lazarus who was in Abraham's bosom, he demanded that he dip the tip of his little finger and slake or quench his thirst. But Lazarus answered him, he could not because of the wide gap that separated them. Moreover, that he had his comfort and luxury on earth, while he himself lacked them. However, he asked if he could go and deliver a message to the living so that they would escape similar fate he had, but he was told they had prophets, Moses and preachers with them over there. If they would not listen to them, they also would not heed anyone from the land of the dead.
What really strikes me from the foregoing, is the fact that the dead were able to share the knowledge of events in the land of the living. For instance, Abraham clearly told the rich guy who wanted his brothers to be saved from calamity by sending Lazarus to go and preach to them that they had prophets and laws (Moses) as a guide to avoid incurring God's wrath. Similarly, Lazarus still vividly recalled the wickedness of the rich man toward him on earth.
By extension, the dead can see. The spirit and the soul never die, but the flesh does. The spirit transits or migrates out of the flesh to await divine judgement. Then after divine judgement, it is assigned its rightful place which could either be hades or paradise.
If it has been established, that the dead has knowledge of what happens in the land of the living, I have no doubt they will roll over in their graves if their dying wishes are disregarded or subverted. For instance, the matriarch's dying wishes have not been honored. Especially, her burial site wish. This act of sacrilege has re-emphasized the dangerous impact of family dynamics in our daily interpersonal relationships.
Furthermore, what is the essence of the dead confiding in the living about their dying wishes if they would not be honored?
Must all dying wishes be put down in black and white? No, they must not. There are oral and written dying wishes. The deceased, while they lived chose freely whom they would confide in. But cultural and traditional hangovers have been the bane of the implementation of their legacies. If the dead, dies intestate, custom and tradition which apparently are significant sources of common law makes it difficult, if not impossible for the deceased's confidant to represent and implement their dying wishes. The living and the dead alike deserve respect.
As the living know one day they will die, so do the dead know they are dead. The living know they will leave this earth, and will never come back and in similar way, the dead know they have left this earth and will never come back. This cliche, rest in perfect peace, annoys the dead beyond expression. The dead always ask the living how can we rest in peace let alone in perfect peace, when our spirits still hover desultorily because our dying wishes are not honored?
In conclusion, if the dead can see, they will roll over in their graves. The dead can actually see. Therefore, the matriarch rolls over in her grave because her dying wishes have been dishonored.
There is a biblical quote, "There is no existence in the grave". This scriptural cliche is attributed to famous and wisest king Solomon. The interactions between Lazarus the pauper and the opulent man in the scripture, also gave credence to the fact that there is cessation of life after death. As the rich man got divine justice after death, he was assigned the hottest part of hell. In this area of intense and extreme dryness and hotness, he realized his folly and mistake. He became very thirsty in the midst of lake of unquenchable fire. As he looked over the chasm or gulf separating him from the poor beggar Lazarus who was in Abraham's bosom, he demanded that he dip the tip of his little finger and slake or quench his thirst. But Lazarus answered him, he could not because of the wide gap that separated them. Moreover, that he had his comfort and luxury on earth, while he himself lacked them. However, he asked if he could go and deliver a message to the living so that they would escape similar fate he had, but he was told they had prophets, Moses and preachers with them over there. If they would not listen to them, they also would not heed anyone from the land of the dead.
What really strikes me from the foregoing, is the fact that the dead were able to share the knowledge of events in the land of the living. For instance, Abraham clearly told the rich guy who wanted his brothers to be saved from calamity by sending Lazarus to go and preach to them that they had prophets and laws (Moses) as a guide to avoid incurring God's wrath. Similarly, Lazarus still vividly recalled the wickedness of the rich man toward him on earth.
By extension, the dead can see. The spirit and the soul never die, but the flesh does. The spirit transits or migrates out of the flesh to await divine judgement. Then after divine judgement, it is assigned its rightful place which could either be hades or paradise.
If it has been established, that the dead has knowledge of what happens in the land of the living, I have no doubt they will roll over in their graves if their dying wishes are disregarded or subverted. For instance, the matriarch's dying wishes have not been honored. Especially, her burial site wish. This act of sacrilege has re-emphasized the dangerous impact of family dynamics in our daily interpersonal relationships.
Furthermore, what is the essence of the dead confiding in the living about their dying wishes if they would not be honored?
Must all dying wishes be put down in black and white? No, they must not. There are oral and written dying wishes. The deceased, while they lived chose freely whom they would confide in. But cultural and traditional hangovers have been the bane of the implementation of their legacies. If the dead, dies intestate, custom and tradition which apparently are significant sources of common law makes it difficult, if not impossible for the deceased's confidant to represent and implement their dying wishes. The living and the dead alike deserve respect.
As the living know one day they will die, so do the dead know they are dead. The living know they will leave this earth, and will never come back and in similar way, the dead know they have left this earth and will never come back. This cliche, rest in perfect peace, annoys the dead beyond expression. The dead always ask the living how can we rest in peace let alone in perfect peace, when our spirits still hover desultorily because our dying wishes are not honored?
In conclusion, if the dead can see, they will roll over in their graves. The dead can actually see. Therefore, the matriarch rolls over in her grave because her dying wishes have been dishonored.
The wages of sin is death.
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