Hi folks, This week we are meeting at 8.00pm in the Kittiwake in Whitley
Remembrance Sunday
WARNING! – this post discusses death.
At this time, when nations are remembering those who died during the wars, I have been thinking about how we deal with death. I freely admit that death is something I struggle to deal with myself. I avoid funerals if I can and have often cried over the death of people I don’t know very well. I feel a deep sense of loss with death, even as a Christian and having been brought up with the belief in heaven and an afterlife.
Please watch this 2 minute animation.
So what does the clip say to you?
I accept this is meant for young children, however, does it say anything more than a nice animation about a cute rabbit? Does it tell the whole story? Where are the soldiers? If this is meant to explain the reason behind the poppies and remembrance Sunday, has it been sterilisedtoo much? Are we shielding the next generation too much? Do we risk repeating the mistakes of previous generations by hiding them?
Death was always a close neighbour during previous generations. Illness, poor sanitation, early childhood diseases, poor working conditions…the list goes on of reasons behind the prevalence of death in communities. I am sure, like me, you have watched documentaries about how other communities deal with death. Some making a huge celebration of the life lived; some hold on to the body far longer than we are used to (up to a whole year in one community I watched!); some seemingly dealing with it and moving on very quickly. Last Sunday in the group I was part of, we talked about some of our own communities who still have the dead person in an open coffin at home before the funeral, for family to see and say goodbye to.
Perhaps it is because of how many families were touched by death in the world wars and how horrific it must have been to live through those times, that generations following have been shielded, or shielded their own children, from the full reality of death. Think of the words that we use – “passed away”, “gone home”, “lost”…….. to a young child these words do not really speak of the reality of what has happened and can leave some doubt or misunderstanding, particularly if they never see the dead body. Having pets and the inevitability of their demise after a relatively short time, can help with an understanding of what it is to “loose” someone close.
And then what? After we die what is there to look forward to, or is that it? Does or should, your belief of what happens next, shape the way you live your life?
Now please watch this trailer. It really comes alive with the addition of colour don’t you think?
I hope some of my rambling has been helpful or just encourages you to have a conversation about death.
Sending peace out to you all
Angela is born and bred in the North East she loves working alongside and supporting vulnerable young adults. She also has a love of motorbikes, walking Ruby (that’s her dog) at the coast and eating cake.