Losing a loved one is never easy.

For some of us, the very idea of death is a frightening thing.

In the 1940's and 50's, some people actually had the body of a loved one brought to their home, and this is where the viewing occurred.

I know someone that this happened to, an older gentleman, and he is very thanatophobic.
The idea of death troubles him, and he wants to be cremated because the idea that worms may eat his corpse disgusts him.

I know many people who do not like to think about death, let alone attend a funeral.
To confront our own mortality is a difficult thing.

We often take life for granted. When someone dies what we call an untimely death, which really means that we were not expecting them to die either because they were too young or too healthy,we can be deeply hurt.

We begin to question the Universe and wonder why people die.

For some, seeing the body in its casket at the funeral brings closure. You accept that the person is no longer going to be a part of your day to day existence, and that for all intents and purposes they no longer exist on this world.

This state of nothingness, this no longer ever seeing someone again is so hard for some of us, so unimaginable, that when it happens we just do not know what to do.

Some of us are so horrified by this, they cannot even attend the funerals of their own mothers or fathers.

The idea of seeing their beloved parent lying inert, never to hear their voice or see them smile, never to get advice or watch that Super Bowl with, never to have that home cooked meal again, it is hard.

Not everyone can embrace the fact that life entails death.

For all things that exist are transient, so all things will eventually vanish, or die.
Many of us get so depressed that we act self destructively when faced with death, so it is very difficult to deal with the physical reality of a corpse to confront.

Walking up to the casket can be an unbearable journey.

I was sheltered from funerals until my adult life, and my first experience with a corpse was with the deceased form of my 21 year old best friend. It was really a horrible experience for me, and it was incredibly difficult to accept.

I do not regret going though, but I can definitely understand why someone would not want to suffer through that experience.

We should respect the frailty of other human beings in light of death, and if someone does not choose to attend a funeral because it scares them and hurts them too much, then we should respect that.

Learn more about this author, Thaxton Lewis.
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