This week, I want to talk about epitaphs. I'm going to try to locate epitaphs that are funny, poignant, inspiring, and/or just plain crazy. It may seem odd, even morbid to talk about an epitaph why you are still alive. Welcome to my inner world. Death has never been a big concern for me. My sentiments about death are best captured by Woody Allen: "I am not afraid of dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens." Amen.
Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to people to say about me after I die. (Hopefully, there will be only a few, "Thank Gods"). Why? I am a firm believer that how you live your life in front of people is a clue about what they will say about you when you are no longer around. If I'm arrogant and unkind, then it will probably be said, "What an arrogant s-o-b!" If I'm stingy and lacking generosity, then you'll hear, "What a tight wad." If I cheat on my wife, then every negative epithet said about me while living or dead will be deserved.
So, what do I want my friends and family to say about me after I die? Simply this: Everyday of his life he lived to love God more and love others a little bit better. You know what? I am going to live a long time because I am no where near this sentiment. Sadly, until only recently did I fully embraced the most important commandment of the Bible (Mark 12:29-31). It's a command that Jesus gave to sum up all the 600+ Old Testament commands. I love Jesus for this distillation. Two commands are all that I can handle...and I will need a lifetime to get these right!
What would you like your epitaph to say?
1 comment:
I saw this one at Disney:
"Here lies Dear Old Fred
A great big Rock fell on his head."
Or this one:
"Here lies Charlotte
Born a Virgin,
died a harlot."
Or, CS Lewis commented once on the inscription of a well known atheist buried at Westminster, whose tombstone read in subscript "All dressed-up and no where to go". His Remarks were of course along the lines of what a wasted bit of granite because he certainly knows better now.
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