Conversations at a Funeral

The other day I attended a funeral of a friend and afterwards apart from many other conversations had four in particular. The first one said “I will be seeing your eldest brother later today”. The group around me all laughed, saying Dennis is the eldest of the four brothers. The poor chap just did not know what to say and turned a colour of deep red, he was small in stature and became I am sure even smaller.

The second conversation was not as amusing, in fact quite sad, when I was being introduced to the circle one person asked “Are you related to James Troedel” I replied “Yes he is my youngest brother” They then asked what he was now doing and how was he. I answered “I am afraid I cannot answer your question, because I just do not know, even though I have offered invitations for him to join me for lunch, or even just a coffee, so that I could find out and so I could answer your question”.

The third conversation is even sadder. On when being introduced to a third chap later on when he was informed by the introducer that Andrew was my brother. This chap then looked at me and said at the same time “I am sorry your brother is a very dishonest and mean person”. Luckily for me I was already aware of what he was referring to, as some years ago his sister had told me the story of the incident. But what was I to say to this chap – What answer could I give him in front of the circle of people standing with their drinks in their hands around in a circle.

Being the eldest of the four and traditionally the leader, who takes on the mantel of the first born as in the English tradition of carrying on the family name to the next generation who also has feelings for the siblings whom he grew up with, has to take into account the good and the bad of what they have done in their lives. Therefore the act of leadership is to acknowledge the success, failures, and what actions they his brothers themselves have each created, knowing that they themselves alone must take full acceptance and responsibility for what they themselves have done, either honorably or dishonorably, irrespective of any generosity or pain that they may have created or caused to one or all of their brothers.

So what does one answer when such a statement is made, and you happen to be aware that the statement is true, because you already know that the track record of that one brother is one of dishonesty, meanness, and theft?

So what and how did I answer to the statement made about my brother? My answer was “I am sorry that you have had such a bad experience with him, but please realize that we are all not like him, That he has to answer for his own actions and deeds, maybe one day when the ferry man has to be paid that he will realize what a waste his life has been in trying to achieve the impossible through his dishonesty and of his actions”

Finally I met a 89 year old Lady, when being introduced to her she said “Dennis Troedel?” ““Are you really Dennis Troedel”? I answered that it is I. She then asked “Did I remember a Mrs. Black?” Wow! That was 65 years ago, my mind went spinning, and then suddenly I did remember her. She then went on to tell me about how Mrs. Black who had come from our family to look after her family could only say this Dennis Troedel did this, this Dennis Troedel did that! Everything was related to what I had got up to. Just what did I do to this elderly lady sixty odd years ago? I thought gee I did start early impressing ladies even when they were elderly and young child minders.

out of ashes the new is born

Now out of ashes the new is born, and it is now time to look to the future, realising where all the good is, and where the positive can be found. Last Sunday, there was a unique Australian National memorial service, held in Melbourne Victoria, for all those who were involved, those who had lost everything, and those who have gone.
It was a wonderful service, because it brought together every aspect of Victorian life, and hopefully the real start of the “Interfaith” society of understanding in Victoria. Where all religions, faiths, and those people who now live in Victoria, Where so many people have come from every corner of the earth, to now enjoy the Victorian, and Australian lifestyle. Where people are equal no matter who or what they are.
This inter faith is the first step in understanding the faiths, habits, and traditions of all, no matter what their colour or creed maybe. There possibly is no City, or state in the world, other than here in Melbourne and in Victoria where the actions of the interfaith movement has become so positive. For people to try to understand each other, to love their neighbour’s, no matter what, is a big step forward, this has surely all come from the ashes.
Politician’s, and experts all talk about the their promises, and then there are those who question why, when in South-eastern Australia, over the years we have had a history of bushfires and fire storms, that we fail as a State, or a nation, to learn, heed, or understand the behaviour of a bushfire, and when the fire becomes a fire-storm.
Neville Shute in his 1955 Novel “The Far Country” when writing about the mountain cattlemen at the foot of Mt Buller, when one the men who was deep in the forest, but in a clearing, went to light a match for his cigarette. The match when struck flared significantly. The methane type gas from the eucalyptus gum leaf due to the extreme heat of the day was indeed high, so being the cause for the match to flare.
For a country to experience so many dry low humidity very hot days before that day of the fires, can only mean a extremely high eucalyptus vapour was going to be present throughout Southeastern Australia. In many ways, I am surprised that there was not far more devastation than what eventuated.
Because of distance and time from other parts, nations, and countries of the world, the Australian history has shown how as a Nation the people will band together, making sacrifices in helping others. This history from the time of the first settlers, including the two world wars has shown the unique Australian traditions of banding together as brothers, turning the bad into the good. So again in Australian tradition, this interfaith has awakened as one, we again become a close united team, all under the Australian flag fighting a war against the evils of nature and man kind. Yes from these experiences will be developed more world first break through, and better ways to understand so to be living in the Aussie lifestyle, all under one God.