Funeral to Festival, to Funeral

by Dean J. Seal

The Festival is Spirit in the House, which is about spirituality expressed by artists through their art. Theater is the core, with storytelling being a major vehicle, and dance, movement, testimonial, all chipping in. This year we had 14 live shows, and 14 films. Also, five workshops. Lest you become muddled in thinking it is all Xtian, let's mention the list of Faith Traditions in the past five years: Quaker, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim Dervish, Mormon, Sikh, Baptist, Goddess, Jewish, and lots of Non-denominational experiential. Also, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist. See the site: Spiritinthehouse.org for details.

The Funeral, this year, was my mother-in-law, Ann. Last year it was my mother, Elaine. Both died just before the Festival. Both had suffered somewhat from pain and debilitating health pictures; my mom was 88 and Ann was 73. But neither wanted to live in a residential nursing home, and both went fast, within an hour for Ann and about 12 for Elaine. It was a blessing for them. It's been a tough year for my little family.

Why the odd pairing? I have no idea how it happened that way. I do think I can juxtapose the events and learn from them. I can recommend a book on the afterlife, not written by a goofball. It's called Forever Ours, by Dr. Janet Amatuzio, who is a Forensic Pathologist. For those unacquainted with the term, she's the one who will inspect each and every stab wound when someone is killed by a freak. Forensic pathologists will not put up with any crackpot ideas from anyone; yet she writes movingly about what she has heard from those who have left and come back.

This is what I talk about when people ask me about it. I don't think there is a hell. I think we go to God, and when we get there, we have a chance to understand out lives, and we bathe in the love of the Eternal Being, the Creator, El Shaddai, the Uncreated. Those of us obsessed with vengeance in this world will be disappointed that there isn't some place where pointy-eared guys with tails are stabbing people with tridents. But they can take that up with the discussion groups when they get there.

My experience here is that I have no trouble with death. Sometimes it looks pretty good; as Liz Lemon said once on 30 Rock, "When will death come?" We have nothing to fear but fear itself; fear is actually a major component of pain, and if you aren't afraid of whatever is causing the pain, you can reduce the amount of pain you actually experience. The shows we produced in the Festival are about how people deal with life in a manner that is attempting to be meaningful; more than a material victory over our pals, more than comfort and time off. What if we felt that compassion was more important than envy?

That's what I'm talkin' bout.

Then, on the last weekend of the Fest, I attended the funeral of a guy, Rev. Don Meisel, who was a fan of my work. He came to hear me preach when I had the pulpit at Central Presbyterian in St. Paul. He did not have to do that, but he wanted to encourage the young talent (hah, younger than him, anyway) because he was comfortably retired, and comfortably headed to the Great Round-Up. With his death fully in mind, he could move peacefully from commitment to commitment to make the world a better place after he was gone. He also could speak clearly; when the new minister was being installed, he gave the congregation a charge: "Show up."

So, knowing we will die, this is our charge. Be alive while we are alive. Be aware of the many paths to wisdom, of the many styles of spirituality, give them their due, and learn your own way by being intentional about the pursuit. Listen to the suffering in this world, and be not afraid of sharing that pain. And when there is a need, show up.