Making Things: The Undertaking
As I’ve said before, I am fascinated with the process of making things. Perhaps it’s because on the rare occasion I can do just that – making a mosaic as a gift, a toy for one of my kids, or dinner for friends – it seems so utterly satisfying. (More so, actually, than most of what I do.) I have a hunch that making things – bringing things into being – not only connects us with things of the earth like wood or food but also perhaps aligns us with the creating and creative God we know in and through Jesus. Whatever the reason, I’m intensely curious about the process of how we make things and so fan a well-made films about just that.
This film – about woodworker Michael Yates’ project to construct a coffin for his grandmother – was particularly well done and quite moving. He wants the coffin to reflect his grandmother’s values and personality. He wants it to be a gift by which he can express his love for her, the many memories of her tenderness and their long relationship. And he wants to finish it in time for her to see and enjoy it before actually needing to use it!
It struck me, while watching the 8-minute film, how devoid it was of any particular spirituality, let alone religious references. I don’t say that as a criticism, but rather as an observation. I so take for granted my own assumption that funerals are inherently religious that it was an interesting reminder that for an increasing number of folks, the funeral is a passing, a transition, but not necessarily one accompanied by religious faith and practice.
Which got me wondering: what is it, really, that we have to offer folks during these kinds of significant transitions. I don’t mean just our faith and hope in the resurrection, but in how we conduct ourselves at significant times in our lives, how we reach out to others who are struggling with grief, how we plan and conduct funeral and memorial services knowing that more and more of those in attendance – friends and co-workers and perhaps family of the deceased – may not share our beliefs and hopes or even understand much of what we are doing.
Recognizing that the picture of a minister conducting a funeral is one of the most stereotyped images of pastors, I’m curious as to how we might reclaim this space to offer a word of incarnation and resurrection, a word of presence and hope.
Well, these are just a few of the musings this video set off for me. I’d be interested in what it sets going in you as well.
An Undertaking from Dark Rye on Vimeo.
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Some pastor friends and I are having a conversation (electronically) about this article in the New York Times about a man building the casket that he would be buried in:
http://nyti.ms/1bfGvqF
And when I linked to the article on Facebook, someone mentioned a group of Trappists who build caskets for people, and who build them for themselves too. Apparently they build their own caskets and put bookshelves inside them, and stand them in the corner of the room. Functional and poignant reminder of mortality.
Gorgeous article. And I love the idea of building the coffin early enough to get a lifetime’s use of it as a book shelf! Thanks, MaryAnn.
David, down here in Carolina there is a morning radio show out of Charlotte called the John Boy and Billy show. It is good ole boy conservative humor which I enjoy in small doses but when a new caller calls in and identifies themself as a first time caller a cowbell is rung to celebrate, so you can now ring the cowbell for me a first time replier.
Your question on what is the purpose of a funeral today where many who are “celebrating the person’s life might not be diciplies of Christ made me think of the best funerals I have been to.
I feel they do and allow many of the same things a baptism and wedding do for the community that forms around an individual.
At a baptism I welcome a child of God to the Christian community I am part of and agree to be participant with this child in this community.
At a wedding I hear the vows and agree to support the couple in those vows, hopefully in community through the future.
At a funeral we celebrate a person’s life and our relationship with that person in all the roles we have shared with them in this life and hopefully being children of God together was part of that relationship.
Hopefully those who haven’t recognized they are a child of God can get a hint of what occurs at the rail with the communion of Saints along with remembering how well they did or didn’t honor the commitments they had with the deceased. We have used your Making Sense of Series in our “Embarked” Sunday School class and look forward to whatever next rounds you do.
How beautiful! I thought of my son, who is just beginning to learn to work wood, and sent it to him. What a gift to work with your hands and make something beautiful for someone you love so dearly.
Thank you for sharing . . . as always your words and the videos you chose are inspiring and life-giving.
David I missed you – like Helen’s post in Daily Bread I to have worried about you and when you say, as you did above, ‘(more so, actually, than most of what I do)’ know that what you do here has a profound affect on MANY – God bless you and keep you with the many that look to yo daily.
While there was a strange void around spirituality in the film, I noticed that Michael was very careful about how he spoke of the church pew that was used to make his grandmother’s casket. He noted that the pew was being given a new life–transformed, is the word I would use–rather than being disposed of. I liked that.
My husband is a funeral director, and as a pastor I have led many funerals. While I know that many people do in fact prefer ornate caskets as a way to honour the one they love, I appreciate that this family is making death a part of their life together. And I love that they are honouring the journey from this life to the next with creativity and the careful investment of time and talent. Thanks for sharing.