Suicide

I have sat on my thoughts about recent celebrity suicides for a while now. You’ll be shocked to know I still don’t know the immediate answers (sarcasm). Here’s what I do know. There are a few things to consider when talking about this subject. One thing that’s rarely talked about in reference to suicide are all the people it affects. Sure, we talk about the family and rightfully so and in some cases the best friends. But we don’t talk about ALL the people it affects for the rest of their lives. Like the good friend at work or school that just saw them a few days before the tragic choice was made. They’re now thinking “If I would’ve just said something that reminded them that they have something to live for, maybe they’d be alive”. There are so many of those people out there that are second guessing every move they made prior to their friend’s death and really beating themselves up over the “what I should’ve said’s” and it affects them for the rest of their lives.

In most cases, there’s nothing you or anyone could’ve said. Their mind was made up. But for some that may wonder, “what do I do in a situation where I’m concerned for someone? Will I say the wrong thing?” One thing my brother Adam Grainger said in his sermon concerning this very issue is he learned in training to be a counselor, that if you even THINK they are struggling to that point, ALWAYS ASK them because you get one of 2 responses. “No, it’s not really that bad and it’s great someone cares” or “yes, that’s what I was thinking.” I implore you that if you are close to someone that you think is struggling, say SOMETHING. Apathy and isolation are the first steps towards self-destruction. Remember, the enemy doesn’t care about you going to Heaven. He realizes he lost that battle. He just wants you to shut up while you’re here. I also believe that there are two primary driving factors behind suicide itself.

1- We need air in our lungs to breath or we’ll die. We need hope in our soul or we’ll die inside. HOPE is where the entire dilemma lies. The only debate is what to put our hope in. It’s clear that whatever Kate Spade placed her hope in had vanished. Her kids weren’t enough hope. Her riches weren’t enough hope. Only hope in something (really Someone) bigger, greater, and cooler than us will sustain us. The sooner we realize that we are not Teachers, Policemen, Janitors, etc… but that we are children of God and that teaching, policing and cleaning is WHAT we do, not WHO we are, the sooner proper perspective comes in life. Our hope and identity can’t be in anything other than GOD. Everything else fades. Everything else goes away at some point.

2- Isolation. When God created Eve, He said it was because it wasn’t good for man to be alone. Therefore, He created us to be co-dependent. If the enemy can get you alone, He can convince you of something that’s just not true. Just ask Eve. The only way Kate and Anthony thought it was a good idea to do what they did was because they isolated themselves. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Had they sought the approval of anyone on this, they would’ve received immediate rejection. They would’ve known just how loved they are. But they got alone and listened to the enemy tell them the lie that the world is a better place without them. We are called to a community of people. People to keep us in check.

So going forward, find hope that outlasts every vocation…and don’t isolate yourself. If anyone in your life is struggling with either of these, step in! Don’t let someone you love isolate themselves. Penn Jillette, an outspoken atheist, told the story of when a man brought him a Bible after a show. He stated that this man was a very good man and he had nothing but respect for that man. He stated, “if you believed in Heaven and hell, believed that there really is everlasting life, how bad would you have to hate someone to not tell them about it?!” For some of you reading this, there are certain people in your life where YOU may literally be the only hope they encounter.

Stay Classy GP! (God’s People)

Grainger