死亡經濟學

大多數人想及死亡，便有強烈的情緒反應——對未知的恐懼；想到可能要受上帝審判；想到平日的生活方式或會帶來什麼後果等等。但是死亡對於基督徒再無權勢，於是，對死亡的絕望，便轉變成平安的盼望；而死亡的代價，只是花點金錢而已。

早幾年，家父母決定預先購入墓地。雖然很多長者對於預立遺囑也有抗拒，更遑論處理身後事。但家父母都是虔誠的基督徒，有永生的把握，知道死後與主耶穌和信主的家人永在一起，所以對於死亡毫無忌諱。他們想到墓地價錢只會上升，就決定未雨綢繆，及早計劃。

我和弟弟們與父母一同去看墳地，增加了不少與「死亡經濟學」有關的知識。首先我們發覺，墓地的價錢會因墳場不同而相差很大，故我們視察比較了不少地區。加洲三藩市灣區亞裔人口不斷上升，很多墳場都有特定的華人區域，母親說：「在自己的同胞中，我覺得會舒服些！」他們更希望鄰近是親朋好友呢！

殮葬經濟學

買墓地和買房子差不多，價錢因地勢高低、方向，及與大路之距離而分成不同等級。接近樹木的墓地比較涼快（對前往弔祭之親屬來說），但地底會受樹根影響。還有，就是真的可以「同穴合葬」，即在同一墓地內，作雙格床一樣安排，一副棺木在上，一副棺木在下。這樣當然比較省錢，但父母不接受。母親說：「在下面的會不舒服。」我笑說：「假如妳比爸長壽，就不會在下面了。」

選好墓地後，開始議價。女推銷員給我們一份價目表，項目包括「土地業權」、「料理儲備」（照料墓地的基金）、「挖土與平頂」（挖土與填回土地之費用）、「做圍邊」（以三合土為墓穴四面築牆）、「紀念碑」（可以分開訂購，通常會較便宜）。假如在週末舉行殮葬，便得另付「週末費」。一向節儉的父親說：「別管這筆開銷，在週日期間進行便可。」我們討價還價，當然不忘記告訴那女推銷員我們也正在考慮其他墓地，要做成生意的話她必須給予特別折扣。

議好墓地價錢後，交易尚未完成，推銷員通常受過「跨類推銷」訓練，繼續推銷其他相關的產品及服務。只見那推銷員禮貌地拿出一套有三頁紙的價目表。哈！居然有44 種棺木，因材料和裝飾不同而價格有別，費用由1,295至29,000美元不等。最經濟的一種是「無保護作用，布套，平頂纖維板，外塗灰油」。我一看便放心得多，因為我以為最經濟的會是「無油漆木板、包括防水膠包裹、需要自己裝嵌」！而最頂級的一種有以下豪華設施：「堅固桃木，手磨黑色外殼，高質天鵝絨毛內裡」。這東西的確物有所值，可惜只能供瞻仰遺容時欣賞一會兒。

看完這些價錢組合後，推銷員轉移到「葬禮套餐」。她介紹三個不同套餐，每個有不同的價錢組合與折扣。這些套餐包含多種項目，有些是我發夢也想像不到的：葬禮服務總監及職員、包裹防腐劑、壽衣、棺木內飾、化妝、靈柩車、扶靈人手套/煲呔/襟花（最後的一樣已記不起了）、電單車陪同、棺木之內/外十字架等。這些人真是每一樣東西都想得週到（並為每樣項目訂出價格）。

預先準備

交易完成後，我們每人收到一份「個人保障指引」作為禮物。它是一本你想家人知道的事項目錄部，讓您預先寫下﹕舉辦葬禮的詳細指示（音樂的選擇、衣服、花卉、珠寶、戴眼鏡與否）、和生平行狀（確保資料正確！）

真是大開眼界。後來才知道，「殯葬」原來是一門很大的生意，由數大集團控制著，擁有很大市場佔有率（可能有非常好的利潤）。那次對我們來說，則提供很好的家庭團聚戶外活動。我並不是故意裝灑脫，父母能坦然面對死亡，真不簡單！我們談到很多平常沒談及的問題，談及各人將來的計劃等。大家心裡明白，我們能如此平靜談到死亡，是因為我們信靠主耶穌基督。有祂作我們的救主，我們便有永生保證。因此，我們能與使徒保羅同聲說︰「死阿，你的得勝權勢在那裡？死阿，你的毒勾在那裡？」（哥林多前書十五55）

以上是馮爾正先生的翻譯, I originally wrote this article for ProMinistry in English:

The Cost of Dying

For many people, the idea of death triggers strong emotions – the fear of the unknown, the prospect of judgment, the cost of having led a certain type of lifestyle. However, once we become Christians, death no longer holds power over us. Feelings of dread transform into peaceful anticipation and the cost of dying becomes purely financial.

Two years ago my parents decided that they wanted to purchase their future burial plots. Even though many seniors are reluctant to even write up a will, we were not surprised by my parents’ decision. Besides wanting to get their affairs organized, they realized that land prices wouldn’t go down. But above all, being devout Christians, my parents have no qualm about facing death because they know where they are going and whom they are going to meet at the other end.

My brothers and I began helping them on this little project, and in the process we learned a great deal about the financial aspects of dying. First of all, we found that plot prices vary significantly from cemetery to cemetery, so we had to visit quite a few to do comparisons. Because of the growing Asian population in the Bay Area, many cemeteries have allocated specific areas for the Chinese. “We feel more comfortable being among our own people," my mother declared. Ideally they also want to be close to the sites of our other relatives.

Burial economics

Just like houses, burial plots come in different grades and prices, depending on the altitude, the direction, and the distance from the road. Plots closer to trees are cooler (for the people visiting, that is), but the underground may be affected by the growth of the roots. There is something I had not known: it is possible to “double-up" on the same plot, sort of like a bunk bed where one coffin is put on top of another. While this arrangement would of course be more economical, my parents would have none of it. “The one on the bottom would not be comfortable," my mother objected. I shared with her my words of wisdom: “You won’t be on the bottom if you outlive dad."

Once we selected a site, the bargaining began. The saleslady gave us a list of prices, including items like “real property," “endowment care" (funds that are used to take care of the ground), “opening and closing" (costs to dig up the dirt and to put it back), “vault" (a cement casing for the coffin), “monument" (you can order it separately, and it is probably cheaper this way), and a “weekend fee" in case the burial happens on a weekend (my father said “just holding off and doing it on a weekday is fine"). We then haggled about the size of the discounts. We let the saleslady know that we were also considering other cemeteries, so she needed to come up with special discounts if she was to close the deal.

The transaction did not end with an agreement on the price of the plots. Sales people are trained to do “cross selling," which means selling you other related products and services. She cheerfully handed us a Casket Price List which was three pages long. I never knew that there could be 44 different grades of caskets, with prices ranging from just $1,295 to $29,000. This is the description of the most economical model: “Non-Protective, Cloth Covered Flat-Top Fiberboard, Grey Exterior." I breathed a sigh of relief, as I was fully expected to read something like “Unpainted Particle Board, Water-Proof Plastic Wrapper Included, Assembly Needed." As for the top-of-the-line model, it reads “Solid Mahogany, Hand Polished dark Exterior, Vel Allure Velvet Interior." I guess with impressive features like these it is indeed worth the money (except that these features are only seen for a very short time!).

From the casket, the sales presentation turned to the “funeral packages." We were presented with three different packages, each with a different cost structure and discounts. The packages included many different items, some of which I have never even dreamed of: service of funeral director and staff, embalming, dressing, casketing, cosmetizing, funeral coach (hearse), pallbearer gloves/bow ties/boutonnieres (no idea what the last item is), motorcycle escorts, crucifix for casket interior and exterior, etc. These people really thought of everything (and have put a cost to everything).

Preparing ahead

When all the bargaining was done and the deal completed, each of us received as a gift a copy of a “Personal Protection Guide." It is a record book of everything you want your family to know, including detailed instructions on how the funeral service is to be conducted (music selections, clothing, floral description, jewelry, glasses or no glasses, etc.), and your obituary (make sure they get all the facts right and say all the right things!).

It was an eye-opening experience. My subsequent research revealed that dying is a big (and probably very lucrative) business with several large corporations controlling a very large share of the market. For us, it was a time for the family to get together and enjoy a few days out in the sun. It may sound funny or even corny, but we actually had a pretty good time doing it. My parents’ attitude toward death is very refreshing. We get to talk about future plans and issues that we ordinarily would not discuss. Above all, we all know deep in our hearts that because of our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has already overcome death, we have the assurance of eternal life. We can, therefore, join Apostle Paul in declaring: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Cor. 15:55)