CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN GHANA

Sometimes in the States we refer to a funeral as a "celebration of life".

If the memorial service I attended yesterday is at all representative, here in Ghana the phrase "celebration of life" is more than a euphemism. 

By all accounts, Dr. Lydia Nyador was an impressive woman and a servant of Christ. 

I met her on my first trip to Ghana 3 years ago. She and her husband Enoch graciously hosted me for a few nights.

Yesterday's memorial started at 3:00 in the afternoon. All the guests came dressed in black. Enoch wore a traditional robe, also in black. 

For me the highlight of the 3 and a half hour service came after the first 9 or 10 eulogies, about 90 minutes in. That's when the praise band broke into the most raucous praise music you've ever heard and all the mourners jumped to their feet.

Soon Enoch pulled out a white handkerchief and started waving it in circles over his head. Then he slowly shuffled forward, into the open space between the first row of seats and the front of the church. 

Next thing you know, others move forward and soon Enoch was the head of a dancing, praising, handkerchief-twirling conga line.

But here's the moment that broke me: When Enoch's own grown children and their spouses moved toward the dance floor themselves, one of the grandsons, David, a boy of maybe 9 or 10, stood at the edge, wiping tears from his eyes, refusing to join the dance.

Then his newly widowed grandfather came alongside the boy, pulled him close to his side and brought him into the dance.

In reality - DEEP Reality - we have much to celebrate, even in the face of death.

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.  (1 Thess 4)