Weddings and Funerals

A wedding is deemed always to be a joyous event. A funeral however is regarded more as a sorrowful event. A wedding normally see's a couple joining hands in holy matrimony, whilst the latter usually see's the deceased off to the burial grounds or the cremation chamber. Without a doubt a wedding is always a delightful and happy occasion. It provides the opportunity for two people who are madly in love to tie the knot in respect of each others love for the other, and swore an oath to live together until death alone brings them apart. The wedding ceremony usually houses a very lively surrounding, with people mingling around with each other while carrying a glass of champagne on one hand. A wedding is also a once in a lifetime experience for the couples to whom the wedding is intended for, and these are the sort of things which they can ponder upon in 30-40 years time and tell the tale to their grandchildren of that once upon a time. Provided that it all goes according to plan.

A funeral on the other hand is an occasion that many may regard to being a sorrowful one. This is due to the fact that some beloved family members of the deceased will feel that the world is meaningless with his(the deceased's) absence. Yes, at times the world does seem a little meaningless without your love's presence but at some point of time you ought to move on right? This is because time waits for no man. The deceased has lived his life to the fullest, what about you? Do you want to spend the rest of your life mourning his death? I bet he(the deceased) would want you to move on as well. He(the deceased) wouldn't want to see you in pain and agony, but on the contrary he would want you to live a happy and meaningful life; thus at times it is best to let go of your loved ones. In the Baha'i Writings, death is actually a messenger of joy. At first I didn't believe this, but after going through The Writings in detail, I found that death really is a messenger of joy.

This is because the soul will be freed from the material body which it was living in all this time, rendering it the opportunity to move closer to God, The Almighty and The All Wise. After all, we all have to go back to our Creator at some point of time right? Hence it is best to put on a smiling face during a funeral, for the soul of the deceased is finally freed from the material cage which it has been in for the past 60 years or so; its just an estimation really. Thence the next time you attend anyone of the above occasion, be sure to be even more delighted to attend the latter.