Sadly, I attended another funeral service, although these days it is called a celebration of life. It’s a term I dislike. I just feel like if you want to celebrate my life don’t wait until I can’t attend the celebration. I understand the sentiment but simply disagree.

For me, it is no time to celebrate, it is a time to mourn. It’s important to mourn, to allow yourself to feel that loss and come to terms with that. Perhaps, after I die, I will celebrate, but that is an unknown. That is based in belief.

The “celebrating” part of a funeral service should be reserved for the wake. Did you know it is called a wake because in ancient times people stayed awake to guard the body before burial. I expect the storytelling and drinking part helped with that. It got you ready for the sorrow.

For me a burial is a solemn occasion. It isn’t a time to tell stories or have slideshows. No, I just feel like there should be a preacher offering words of comfort and reminding us that our day will come. It’s an occasion for self-reflection! You might say, a wake up call!

Things change over time, social customs change. People don’t dress for church like they used to, it is a far more casual thing these days. Church services are centered around celebrating. It seems like it is more about entertaining than instruction. A more comfortable belief.

A celebration of life is for the living. That’s my feeling on that. One should not be celebrating in the presence of the deceased, even when that deceased person is cremated and the service is held in the funeral home.

Every funeral home chapel I have been in didn’t look much like a chapel, more like a meeting room. I’ve noticed a good number of churches these days are set up in a similar fashion. A stage instead of an altar, folding chairs in pace of pews and a great sound system. Designed for celebrating!

I’m not saying any of this is wrong. I am commenting on societal changes. I’ve been around for seven decades now and pay attention. Some will say I’m stuck in my ways. I just say, I’ve decided.

Adopting whatever new trend comes along doesn’t keep you young. Holding onto those things that comfort you isn’t being stuck in the past. The only constant in this world is change. You don’t have to like the changes, just live with them.