MUSIC AND DEATH

Yesterday I heard all kinds of music. In the taxis, Vietnamese and English rock; last night in a Yogurt Shop with two expat friends; very loud Vietnamese rock; yesterday morning about 8:30 am, loud drums and cymbals in front of our building. A large Insurance Company was officially opening their office with speeches and special music performed for the invited guests.
However much earlier, at 6:30 am I heard the music of death. We hear this often because we live near what might be called a funeral home. The five piece band (drums and horns) follows the casket borne by men in either colourful or all white clothes. A few or many mourners, follow the Buddhist priest(s) who leads the procession for several blocks. They stop near our building. Then the priests and mourners get into a private bus rented because few people own cars. The bus follows the casket vehicle to the place of disposal.
The band plays loud, almost "ragtime" music. One of the popular procession pieces is the tune we in the west know as "Oh Susanna". It seems quite out of place at a time of mourning, but perhaps there are sombre Vietnamese words to that tune.
Jan and I cringe whenever we hear the early morning funeral music. (Early morning so people can still get to work, I suspect.) The music is not sad, but it signifies death without hope - or death with false hope; a heart wrenching tragedy. Far too many Vietnamese die with this kind of Buddhist funeral.
In contrast, we Christ followers do not grieve like those without hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13) A few weeks ago my oldest sister, Yvonne passed away after many years of painful ill health. As a believer, she knew that life with Christ awaited after death. She voiced a deep longing for death many times over the past several years. A few weeks before she passed away, I had discovered a twenty year old song, "All My Tears", recorded five years ago by the group Selah. The words are powerful and I find the music haunting.
When Yvonne died, I went to YouTube and played the song numerous times. I am sure the words capture what she felt. I'd be happy if one day it is sung at my funeral. Here is just the chorus. "It don't matter where you bury me. I'll be home and I'll be free. It don't matter where I lay. All my sins be washed away."
Since I really believe those words are true, I guess "it don't matter" what kind of music is played at my funeral!