NITEMARE in Cem Street & CHRISTMAS DAY

Warning: R21 - for mature audiences only and especially those who are NOT afraid of things that go tick tock in the nite. Otherwise, skip this post

i woke up at about 0400 h this morning - had a strange dream - wasn't unpleasant, nitemarish BUT very strange. but it is not something out of the ordinary becos i experienced these strange dreams every now (this is the 2nd one in this month) .

"i was in the States (US) and visited a famous cemetry to pay respects to those departed but strangely this big cemetry was housed in a big air con auditorium. everything was brown in color - brown wall panels, brown ceiling, brown earth but there were lamps around to navigate one's route. i guess i was tired ( maybe i was on a full day tour) so i lay down and rested beside one of the graves and before long, i fell asleep. then i felt a cold (maybe the aircon got colder) and i woke up in the nite, open my eyes and i found myself in the same position earlier in the day- next to a grave. i wasn't frightened at all (would you scream ?) - i stood up and made my way to the EXIT door. Fortunately, the lights were still on though dim; otherwise, i would have tripped. Then, i woke up".

In my lifetime, i have attended many wakes but less at funerals - it's good to be a comforter especially when peole need people the most in their darkest hours. i went to a wake once at 0235 am to assist in "duties". In all these events, one thing that strikes me most and always is the solmen "atmosphere" , great grief and sorrow, helplessness, failure, lost, hopellessness - a feeling of ALL IS LOST- DEATH WINS. I have spent considerable time reflecting on this subject and i can share with you from my personal experience that "Physical" death is very well real; crying loads of tears will not bring yur loved one back. Since the 1st human was created, there isn't one who has died a physical death and then came back to life - except for Christ.
Death is taboo - most dun wanna to talk about or even think about it. Most people rather sweep it under the carpet and avoid the subject. Heard of the usual phrases "parn tarn" or "touch wood" or "choy choy" ? Even the media ads- we plenty of slimming ads, handphones, home appliances, condos, cars etc but ever saw one ad that says "buy one casket now and get 30% discount"? (perhaps i coud use them for storage purposes for the time being and when the appointed time comes, use it to contain my physial self) Dear friends, we WILL all die - for the "wages of sin is death". The only thing that we not know of is the time and the date. When the day and time comes, are we prepared ? OR do we live our lives as if that we will go on forever ? That explains why when death strikes SUDDENLY, most people are unable to accept the sudden loss and cope with their grief. Death can strike at any time.

Christmas has become VERY commercialised so much so that its intended and significant meaning has been lost. Have you ever paused for a moment and reflected what it means when someone says "MERRY Christmas" ? Does it mean merry making, having parties, buying expensive gifts? What is the celebration all about ? Why are we celebrating ?
By all means, have a great time - it's a good time to have fellowship and perhaps a thanksgiving dinner with your families and loved ones BUT do not lose sight of the focus of the essence of TODAY and that is - there is Hope because HE came so that we may live abundantly and eternally. Dear Jesus, i pray that whoever reads this post, that you will touch their hearts warmly and their lives so that they will know YOU are THE SOLE REASON for Christmas today. Amen.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).