In the series of novels by Orson Scott Card which start with “Ender’s Game,” the protagonist vows to travel from planet to planet as a speaker for the dead.  After slaying a civilization that threatens planet Earth, he is intent on telling the true story of the lives of those who have passed.

In the novels, the recently deceased’s past is recounted for that was good and bad.  Among the survivors,  the speaker opens up the closet of skeletons that most are thought to hide throughout life, and, in this way, a type of healing and closure is meant to take place.

There was no possibility that I would have the nerve to present such a speech at my father’s memorial, but I thought about what would be said had a  “Speaker for the Dead” been present.  What I came up with was encouraging.

In thinking about my father’s passing I couldn’t help but wonder what skeletons could be brought to life.  Was there anything he had done that would suprise any of his family or friends?  Possibly his biggest weakness  came in the form of work.  It was no surprise to those who knew him, even in the least, that he was a workaholic.  Maybe he neglected parts of his life, but he valued hard work, and he would be a great inspiration to his children.  It’s thinking of this that I have to step back and rethink my life goals.

I hope that I can look back on a life lived, not only proud of what I have accomplished in my career, but also proud of the person I had become and lengths I went to make my life something that meant something.  If working too hard is the worst someone can say about you, I think you’ve done pretty well for yourself.