I became a celebrant when training to be a hospital and prison Chaplain. A funeral only happens once for each of us and it is so important that it reflects the life, character and uniqueness of the person who has died. Often that picture and personal story come from the family and friends who knew and loved them, sometimes it might come from the person themselves who wants to discuss their own funeral.
A humanist funeral starts with a blank page and grows to include tributes, readings, music, reflections and stories, even pictures. Although a time of sadness and grief, a funeral can also be uplifting, life affirming and full of love.
I spend much of my time talking to people who are finding their lives difficult and distressing, they maybe struggling to make sense of what is, and might be, happening to them. A humanist worldview recognises that we all need to work out what is important to us, the answers are not necessarily found neatly written somewhere or formulaically spoken by others.
What we do have is each other, human connection, care and understanding are what can make all the difference when times are hard and life is frightening. My chaplaincy work shows me what we should value in life and emphasises for me what I need to treasure, appreciate and take pleasure in. I believe that the non-religious also have a spiritual side and that our search for meaning and connection, to others, to the world, to nature, and even transcendence is valid and vital and gives our lives purpose. A funeral can represent all these things through the story it tells us about each unique life.
