We have experienced the loss of two young men in the last week. Both of them dying at their own hands in one way or another. Either an accidental overdose or alcohol poisoning. Both gentlemen had a history of depression and struggles in this life. And in the midst of these last two weeks, at some point they lost their hope. Somewhere, somehow, there was no reason for them to continue to strive in life, but to quit or at least to anesthetize themselves so that their pain was not so acute.
It makes me think of those who are struggling to find their hope and are not going to do anything to take their life. What if we could reach them before it got to complete hopelessness?
As I did one of these funerals, I tried very hard to offer words of hope, but there was such pain and such grief that I really am not sure they were heard or could be heard. So I would ask you, gentle reader, to take a moment and look around you, they aren't hard to spot. A tight or absent smile, their head in their hands, heavy sighs, or a lack of energy. Their hope is waning and you can offer them a sign of hope. A flower? A poem? A scritpure? A pat on the shoulder? A hand on their back that says, "yes you can?" I don't know what it is for you, but you can take a moment and share some hope. There have been enough funerals for a week.
1 comment:
This reminds me of my educator days and standing, on required duty, in the hall during class changes. I enjoyed watching for students who seemed glum for some reason and making them smile by calling them by name, followed by some hopefully appropriate comment. Often these students were enrolled in special learning classes and didn't have friends outside their classrooms. After speaking to some of them rather frequently, they often said hello to me with a smile as they passed the library. It made my day. Sometimes all it takes is merely offering someone the recognition that he IS important to someone, even if the thought results from a simple hello followed by his name. Think about it. If I acknowledge someone by name, I must care about that person, right?
Of course, those of us who have trouble with names probably care also, but we just can't call the name at the moment. That is an entirely different topic.
Janet
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