“Hi. How can I help you?”
“I need to…” “Sorry.”
“It’s quite alright.”
“I need to pick out a casket.”
“Okay. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks.”
“Step this way. Did you have something in mind?”
“Yeah. Nothing ‘over the top’. It should be simple, but natural looking. Not that there is anything ‘natural’ about dying. I think it should reflect the kind of life the one lived who will be using it.”
“I understand. What do you think of this model over here?”
“Model? Gees! You make it sound like they are vehicles that transport the dead into eternity. Is this the newest model or a late model?”
“My apologies sir. It’s a particular style of casket. It’s in our ‘Wood Grain’ family.”
“Umm, not bad. May I see the interior, please?”
“Of course.”
“No squeaks. That’s good. Wouldn’t want to scare any children that may be at the funeral. I guess that one will do.”
“Very good, sir. Why don’t we go back to my office now and we can start the paper work.”
“You mean loan papers don’t you? With what these cost and everything.”
“Sir, they must be paid for upfront. We certainly don’t have a ‘Lay-a-way’ plan here.”
“Is that supposed to be funny?”
“It was.”
“Oh. Well I guess it kind of was. I’m just not in a laughing mood.”
“My apologies, sir.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about it.”
“Ok. Tell me about the deceased.”
“In general, all his life he tried his best to be a good man. To live according to God’s words, and overall, live a life pleasing to God. He was born here in this town, reared here also, but lived in several other places as an adult. He loved to travel. He was married twice, to two different women, had two children and two grandchildren. His first wife poisoned his children about him though, so after they became young adults they told their father he was a horrible man, and they never wanted to see him ever again.”
“Was he?”
“What?”
“A bad man.”
“No. Not perfect, but not bad either. He provided everything he possibly could for his children. Even though he was paying child support, if he saw his kids had a need, he met it. He took them places in America too. They loved traveling as much as he did. He also took them to church. He introduced them to the loving, one, true, God of the universe. He was faithful in taking them there so their faith could grow.
I guess it has become obvious which force won his kids over. They chose ‘evil’ over ‘good’. They know that their sins will cost them their life for eternity, but even though they saw ‘God” at work in the life of their father, it didn’t make the impact it should have. That broke his heart more than not getting to see and spoil his grandchildren.”
“That’s too bad. Seeing, or hearing from their father most likely brought on guilt, and the Holy Spirit bringing to their mind they should be living for God, instead of for themselves. By the way, I’ll also need where all he went to school, and the primary places he lived and worked, and for how many years. Any affiliations he was associated with and any other hobbies he had. Oh! One thing I failed to ask, who’s the casket for?”
“Sir?”
“Sir?”
“Who’s the casket for?”
“Me.”
Hebrews 9:27 (MSG) Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.
Copyright © 2022 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
brady, mark a. 