WHEN I think about the depth of the grave and the kilos of sand that are going to be thrown at us, there is no need to harm my brother; Comfort Mafoshola When I think of the darkness that pervades the tomb after it has closed, there is no need to hurt my sister; When I think of the heat driven back by the ground and the amount of water that will drown me during the rains in this grave, I cannot make my neighbour suffer; When I think that I will be alone abandoned by all, I prefer to enjoy communion when I am alive; When I think my relationships are cut off by my past, I want to perfect my future. If I could be reborn and start all over again, I would no longer make mistakes in my actions. After a long meditation, I understood that all is vanity on earth. May God help us to cultivate humility and love of neighbour, because vanity only gives by vanity, everything will be vanity. Be happy and make someone happy. ” — Barack Obama (former US President) A quick internet search will reveal that the poem under review is attributed to the former US President Obama. Whatever the case, my review is primarily focused with the substance of the poem as opposed to the identity of the author. The poem is as thought provoking as it is motivational. What should be our motivation for showing love? What is the relationship of showing love with the condition of the dead? As a motivational speaker, I was intrigued by the reasons portrayed in the poem and felt compelled to share this review. The question of what happens to us when we die merits our attention. The grave and the elements It is interesting that the poem talks about the heat and the water that will penetrate the grave. Is there a suggestion that the dead person will actually experience the pain? We read about the depth of the grave and how much sand will be thrown at us. Are the dead conscious of anything at all? The condition of the dead What really happens to us when we die? In the final paragraph of the poem, the existence of God is acknowledged and so is the vanity of life. It will only be wise therefore to seek an answer from God’s Word the Bible. Ecclesiastes 9: 5 says; “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” (New King James Version). The answer is clear. The dead will not experience pain in the grave or anywhere else. The soul dies. (Ez 18:4). The natural elements will only have the effect of decomposing the dead. The dead may be exposed to fire but they will not feel the heat. They may be exposed to freezing temperatures but they will not feel cold. The dead are not conscious of anything. During the period of the The Reformation, the Council of Constance ordered that the bones of John Whycliffe be dug up and burnt even though he had been dead and buried for over 30 years. Could they have lacked the understanding of the condition of the dead? It is important for us to have the correct understanding as it will have a bearing on our actions. Ecclesiastes 9: 10 concludes by s
