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The Bright Sides of Death
By Lateef Oladeji of Gem Business Ventures
God created all beings and all things in twos, one being the opposite of the other. For instance, He created male and female, negative and positive, good and bad. Neither of the opposites is meant to be more important than the other, as both of them are required to work together to produce an effect, whether a desired one or not. Life and death are also one example of those ‘collaborative’ opposites. Death, the terminal state of earthly existence, inspires awe in every living thing, particularly humans. It is generally regarded as an unfortunate thing to happen to anybody, even when that person is well overdue for it. In our blanket condemnation of death, we often fail to appreciate its positive roles in our lives. Perhaps the most important role played by death is in serving as a means to an end. No omellet can be made without first breaking an egg. Similarly, no dream of paradise is realizable without undergoing death as a first step. Even when we wish hellfire for our enemies, they need to die first. And for those who believe in reincarnation, death is yet the vehicle for attaining it. An equally important role of death is in the area of moderating human behaviours. Without death as a cautioning factor, people would lead lives of impunity. There would be excesses in every imaginable vice of all humans. The fear of death, and the uncertainty about where it would eventually lead to, make man tame his animalistic tendencies. Death helps in the maintenance of ecological balance by putting a natural rein on population expansion. It’s unimaginable how nature would be able to maintain equilibrium if nobody had died since the days of Adam and Eve. Succession has been made possible and easier with death taking place. Thus, man is saved the complex wrangling and frustrations that would beset human societies where the older generations did not die and leave the stage for the younger ones to take over. Unless a sort of policy of rotation was adopted in such societies, the latter would be stuck with only one set of rulers or heads in perpetuity. If such rulers and heads happened to be unassailable, wicked and tyrannical, people would have no hope of any change for the better in the future. Modern medicine has benefited immensely from people dying. Cadavers have provided the medical profession with huge opportunities for advancements in the teaching and learning of medicine. Post mortem examinations performed on dead persons also advance the cause of medicine as well as that of jurisprudence. Corpses, whether buried in the ground or merely left on it to decompose, form an invaluable organic fertilizer for the soils. They also provide a good source of sustenance for rodents, ants and insects. By so doing, the flora and fauna positions of the society are preserved and enhanced. The death industry has been a thriving one in the society, providing ample employment opportunities for its people. The various funeral houses and coffin makers are only a few examples of how deaths contribute to the economic growth of the society. Depending on the society involved, death ceremonies are great social events, especially where the deceased are considered ripe enough for death, and also if their (or their survivors’) social, political and economic standings are high. These social events and parties provide entertainment, free foods and drinks, as well as opportunities for enjoying the companies of friends, relations, colleagues and business associates. What a joyous way to send off the departed souls! Apart from benefiting the society as a whole, death also works well for the deceased himself or his family and friends alone. A person long suffering from a cruel disease, such as cancer, will regard death as a gracious escape from pain. So will all that are involved in giving him care. Similarly, a death that frees a person from an actual or impending shame of great embarrassment to the family will be viewed by all concerned as a welcome development. Among the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, especially, a person is considered better dead than be a living madman roaming the streets. In summary, it is advisable to regard death as a ‘necessary evil’, much the same way as we view those other things that bring us both sadness and joy. Money is one of them. Somebody also once referred to women (and men too, depending on who is talking) as a necessary evil!
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Contributor's Note
My encounter with the website, www.near-death.com, has played a great role in my views about death.
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PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
GemHomeBiz
an avenue for social and business links
gbolly54.apsense.com
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It was most refreshing to read this article as people rarely speak positively of death. I particularly liked the line The fear of death, and the uncertainty about where it would eventually lead to, make man tame his animalistic tendencies. This is a quote for the ages. As always, your wisdom is like a cold glass of water on a hot, dusty day.
 | | nick Nov 2, 2010 09:17 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you, Nick. Your kind comments always motivate me to strive harder. God bless!
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This intel was contributed by gembiz
gembiz
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