Memorial

O's memorial service was strange. It was not only held at my old church campus but was in the small chapel where we had school choir practice and Wednesday chapel sessions. O was an individual who spent most of his life rebelling against the strictness of the school and church our parents went to. Yet, his family insisted that his memorial take place at the church. They made the memorial an opportunity to preach to the attendees the message that O had found Jesus again just three weeks before he died and that everyone should pray for such grace. Oh my!

I don't know if O had a change of heart about religion or not. I can't imagine what it would be like to know you are about to die and what fears that may bring or what desires to leave one's family in peace. All I know is that O would not have wanted his memorial to be an evangelism opportunity.

On the bright side, I got to see a few friends I hadn't seen for a long time and it got me interested in having a reunion. I've mentioned a reunion to a few friends and they seem interested as well. Perhaps, we'll get together this summer and drink a toast to O and remember him in the style he lived which was with humor, mischief, and daring.