To catch us up to speed, "The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last fall, is seen by its creators as a perfect final resting spot for those who loved the sea. They hope that one day the reef will cover 16 acres and have room for 125,000 remains." "This is simply as good as it gets," said Gary Levine, a diver who conceived the reef and is now a shareholder in the company that owns it."
I couldn't help but be interested in the idea of an underwater cemetery in Florida.
A worker that is responsible for the cement work, "Hutslar said the reef is designed to last forever and engineered to withstand the harshest hurricane that has hit Florida in the last 100 years."
There's a couple of things that I think are just shockingly ironic. First, a cemetery is as good as it gets? I mean, the idea of being buried in an underwater "Atlantis" is really cool. But, it's only cool to the living. These people, every one of them, are dead. They can't enjoy the coolness of being buried here. Death is never as good as it gets. Where we are buried is highly secondary to what happens after we died. Jesus pointed this out in his life. Having to be buried in a borrowed grave, Jesus shows his idea of as good as it gets means, "I'm coming back. Don't tear off the price tag for that tomb. You can return it, for the warranty won't have expired."
Second, I can't help especially to note the irony of graves "designed to last forever." Anyone who has ever experienced a loved one's death understands that there is something odd about their dying. It is not natural. And, the realization of death never settles into our minds. It always, in my opinion, seems more like the person is on a trip. Could this be because we were made to never die? Death is foreign for us. And, death is not eternal. Therefore, to buy a grave that is going to last forever is like buying a grape, that if you eat, will never rot. Christ has conquered the grave and death's time of reign is nearing to an end. So, perhaps these graves are truly designed to last forever, but something tells me (the Bible) we'll never find out. The market for graves will cease long before forever.
When Trials Come
3 hours ago
2 comments:
Hi there,
I came upon your site and read your comments. Sorry for any offence. What I meant is for people to have a great memory of sending off a loved one, which we all have to do from time to time, as a memory of them at final rest in the ocean and surrounded by the beauty of marine life, This project is "as good as it gets"
As a reefbuilder, the first part is the desire to do it. Then the money has to be raised to build without government help. We thought that this final step was a better idea than going to a cemetery because as we certainly know, virtually no one visits after the funeral except a very dedicated few percent. With Atlantis, there is always a nice story to tell.
Best to you,
Gary
Gary,
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and post. Definitely no offense taken. I totally agree with wanting to honor the dead, and even see this as a great way to do it. I was just hoping to point out that even the best of graves, "those that would last forever", will not last forever for they are a temporal thing. The project is actually very beautiful and unique. I love the idea, as long as there is a hope of something greater and more beautiful (resurrection through Jesus Christ) to come.
Looking forward to the grave that will never be,
Elijah
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