Eulogize the Living

Funerals have no attraction to me. I say this, not because I have stared the threat of death in the eyes for over a decade, but because funerals can bring out the best and worst in people. Emotions are raw when a loved one dies and polarizing personality traits emerge.

Negative sentiments such as jealousy, bitterness and anger may erupt. Battles emerge between family members as they scuffle over funeral details and facets of inheritance. Guests attend visitations for people that they have not given the time of day to when they were alive. This type of insincerity is why I have no desire for public visitation or a funeral.

And these reflections bring me to the heart of these reflections - eulogies. Heartfelt funeral orators for centuries have sung the praises of the dearly departed. Almost everyone at his or her funeral will be described in glowing terminology and be elevated to near sainthood. As I have lived under the umbrella of a leukemia diagnosis and experienced many near collisions with death, I have contemplated the practice of glowing eulogies, attendance at funerals and visitations, and adoration of the dead.

I do not plan on having a public visitation or funeral – my plans include a very private graveside service for a handful of people who have journeyed this life with leukemia path with me. I have a new hypothesis – it is time to focus our energies and efforts on the living. Less time, money and energy need to be applied to funerals. It is time to eulogize the living!

Eulogy is defined by the Encarta Dictionary as “to praise somebody or something very highly”. Pause for a moment today and ask yourself what person you might be called upon to eulogize one day. Now reflect on how much more those eulogizing words would mean if they fell upon the living, hearing ears and heart of the person for whom they were penned. Let’s initiate a Living Eulogy Revolution – consider the potential positive outcomes. Relationships could be strengthened. Grievances could be overcome. Hearts could be blessed. Lives could be changed.

Will you write a Living Eulogy today?