Dead Party

Okay the title may sound pretty creepy, but in essence that's what has been happening next my house. An older person
passed away who lived in the compound next to the one I live in. When someone is nice and old (65 plus here in Benin) and they
pass away there is a huge party, bigger depending on the family's wealth. They play loud music for much of the night (thank goodness
for earplugs!) and eat lots. There's even a huge tent that goes all the way across the street for cars and motorcycles to park under.
It is quite the celebration. While I'd like to be able to say that it is because the deceased family member was a real awesome person
or because they helped many people, it is more because the people still alive don't mind having an excuse to party. It is usually
the case that while the person is alive and old, they are neglected maybe not for their physical needs, but certainly for their social
and personal needs. But man when they die, they become a person worthy of a party! I find this so sad. But it is a dilemma
over the whole world. Although in the west we might have a solemn service full of good memories and cherished character traits,
a celebration of a life as we call it, what did we do for that person while they were alive. For some it is already too late, and we simply
need to ask God's forgiveness and learn our lesson. The lesson would be to remember people while they are still alive. There is no
condition in the commandment on parents that there is an age of release!