How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (You Know, Once She's Dead)

Ah, Peter brings to mind a very important subject, at least, when it comes to the world of faith. OK, well, at least in my opinion. Any how, as I've seen in my time, death is in large part integral to the formation of faith. Many times faith is picked up, regained, or observed in times of death due to a sense of obligation to those who have passed (ever been to a Catholic burial?). Others do so at the realization of one's own mortality, in their moments of grief. Some have no need for more than the mere thought of death to be brought "into the fold." And of course their are those who have seen death first hand and are forever driven from their faith. Never in my time have I seen one single subject have such a grave impact (sorry) on the realm of the spirituality of mankind. But this also brings to mind a bit of a question:

If death can have such a strong impact on faith, will you let your faith impact death?

Now for those in a bit of confusion, let me set up a situation. Let's say you are a person of a particular faith (or lack thereof) and someone close to you passes on and they are of a different faith. Will you set aside your beliefs and honor them in the ceremony that they themselves would have chosen? Will you honor them in your own faith, and let others of their faith tend to their requests? Maybe both or neither? Me, I always do my best to tend to their wishes, so long as they don't conflict with my own. I have taken part in a Catholic burial and yet I have no reverence for the saints. I have bent my head and knees to prayers in which held no meaning for me. God knows what I hold true in my heart, and knows that what I do is out of respect for one of his fallen children So long as he knows that, that's all that matters. To this day, I do my best to make good on the wishes of those long past; some see it as trouble, I see it as an honor. How you choose to see it is all up to you.