Mummified

I recently visited the Nelson Art Museum and viewed the Egyptian section of the displays and wondered upon a mummy. At first I thought it was just an example of what a mummy would look like once wrapped and then displayed. I thought wrong. Upon examining this peculiar specimen I discovered not only was it real but, it was over 2500 years old. Imagine if you will, a human being that had died 2500 years earlier and encountering it within only a few inches from your own personal being. Spooky! Tis the season as we end the month of October.

I gazed at the mummy for quite some time. I had many "wonder" moments while observing the intricate wrappings of this body. Although this is not the typical procedure for caring for the dead today, I'm sure this person probably never imagined that his body would be viewed by thousands of people 2500 years later. I would be mortified knowing that my body would be dug up for the unknown to view. There is a certain amount of dignity and respect that we should have for the dead. As I and many others viewed this body, not everyone shared the same reverence. There were some children running around the display, people were talking and saying "oh, gross!", and others just glanced and moved on to the next area of the museum. I was appalled!

November 1st commemorates with fondness the "Day of the Saints" or as the Roman Catholic Church describes it as "Solemnity of All Saints". Homage is paid to those who came before us. So, as I viewed this person my thoughts were " how did this person live his life?" Was he a good, moral man. Did he have a family? What kind of job did he perform. According to science he was 45 to 55 years old and around 5'5" tall and he lived around the time of 525-332 B.C.

What does all this really mean? Well, while at the museum I tried really hard to imagine a holy man, a man with honor, a man of hard work. A man that left this world in peace and entered another. I reflected personally on my own life and what I will leave once my earthly body dies. When I leave this place called earth, I would like to leave in peace knowing that what I did here on earth would be remembered for good works and honor. I want to know that my sufferings here on earth will be replaced with the glory that I will receive once I attain my eternal home with my Lord.

Sounds simple enough but, as I carry this flesh around I also carry with me the weight of my worries. Did the man above carry around the weight of his worries too?

I have paid homage to those that have gone before me and I continue to ask them to intercede for me. I believe they are in a more glorified place.

" The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us." Roman 8:16-18

That's a wrap....