Slip Sliding Away

Is this life so cruel that it is not worth living?

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill. - Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

Hearing about Anthony Bourdain's suicide this week was particularly troubling for me. 

Bourdain was different from other television personalities.  He wore his feelings on his sleeve and was not afraid to say what he meant, sharing what he liked and disliked about the food he tasted, the people he met, the cultures he visited, and the politics of the locale.  He appeared to be totally real.

I guess I thought someone who could deal with reality with honesty and clarity like that would have a grip on life.  Apparently some demon took over and plunged him into the abyss.

I worry about our youth, especially high school and college students who see that for some all the struggles that lead to success come to a bad end for some.

As the author of Ecclesiastes is lamenting, if the successful in life are unhappy, what is the point of all the work? 

Maybe we put too much emphasis on success and wealth.  These things don't bring happiness.  I believe the opposite is true, that happiness, living a joyful life, enriches our lives in a way things cannot.

I guess it is normal to try to encourage our children to want the things we want, to live the way we live, but what if they don't see our lives as particularly joyful and meaningful?  Will they want to be like us?

When we hear of suicide, we want to believe there must have been something wrong with the person who chose that path.  Normal, healthy minds don't go there, we say.

But it is scary to think any mind can.

If we see any signs in those we know and love, we need to talk about it.  And maybe we need to ease the pressure a bit.

I am certain we could all use help at times to deal with life.  Some of us find it in God, but if those we love don't know that path, they may need something else.

The demons don't take a holiday.  We shouldn't either.

More to come...