Can you preach at your funeral? This is not an invitation to death, neither is it a death wish. It is just a harmless question that speaks to your self-examination to know how true you are to yourself in a world where truth hibernates in exchange for societal acceptance.
I attended a funeral not quite long ago where the deceased preached at her funeral. I know you would wonder if this is just a fiction but it is a true life story and it was the first time I witnessed such ingenuity in funeral arrangements.
It was the burial of the mother of a very dear ‘Aburo’ of mine. She passed away at the age of 65. Mrs Abimbola Dada was an Assistant Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God before her transition. She had just one identity and she lived true to that identity till the end.
The congregation at her funeral service was glued to their seats as a compilation of the video clips of her messages on the pulpit was played. At that moment, it was no longer about the deceased, it was rather about the living. Assistant Pastor Abimbola Dada preached at her funeral.
As I listened to her messages, something struck me. Her children could only have had the confidence to display her messages because she lived true to herself. Everything she preached was just a true reflection of the glowing tributes at her service of songs the previous day.
You don’t need to be a Pastor to preach at your funeral. Not even an Assistant Pastor like the late Mrs Dada. As you navigate life journey, living true to yourself in unmistaken identity is a compilation of the sermon at your funeral service, at a ripe age, I must add.
The sound of death does not excite anyone but physical death is one stark reality that man has no control over, no matter how hard we try. This post is not about death, it is about life, the living and the journey through life.
Dual or multiple identity is a barrier to living a true life devoid of deceits. Autograph your works when you still have the chance. Who you are is more of what you do than what you say. When there is a conflict between the two, it is very unlikely you will be able to preach at your funeral.
Someone said he won’t be here anymore but I asked, what is there to live for if your works cannot inspire others when you are no more? Benjamin Franklin said “if you would not be forgotten as soon as you’re dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing”. I choose both.
Thank God it’s Monday.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr
05 May 2025
