The Funeral Service of
Theo William Shisler
17th November 1999
A Story
Anne Shisler
Judaism teaches that there us an afterlife.
We believe that this world is no more than a preparation for the world of bliss that is to follow.
The question is often asked,
'If there is life beyond this, why doesn't someone return to tell us about it?'
By way of reply the following story is related:
At the bottom of a pond rested some newly-laid grubs.
After some days, one of them slowly started to make its way up the stem of a lily.
The others watched it go and saw it disappear beyond the water,
never to be seen by them again.
In the following days it was followed by another and then another.
Those remaining were puzzled by what had happened to their fellows
and they made a promise to each other that the next one to go up the stem of the lily,
would return and tell them what was out there.
In the fullness of time the next one felt the urge to climb the lily.
Laboriously it made its way up the stem
and eventually came to rest on top of the giant lily-pad.
Warmed by the golden rays of the sun, it started to come out of its skin
and slowly underwent the extraordinary transformation
that changed it into a beautiful dragon fly.
When it had dried out, it spread its wings and began to fly over the entire pond,
disporting its magnificent shimmering colours to all who beheld it.
After a while it recalled the promise it had made to the grubs at the bottom of the pond,
that it would return to tell them what it was like above the water.
It hovered above the pond, flew backwards and forwards
and then it came down to rest on the lily pad.
It realised that it now looked so different
and was able to do things that they couldn't even dream of,
so that even if it could return to its fellows,
they wouldn't recognise it as one of their own.
And so it is when someone precious leaves us.
Our beautiful Theo is free and unrestrained,
watching over us, enjoying the sunlight of heaven.
We will forever remember him and he will be forever in our hearts.