For Sunday January 4th, 2015

Hello all, roughly 22 American service men and women take their own lives every day, more than 8000 a year. This speaks to not only a problem with our military system but also a societal misunderstanding of suicide. 

There is the story of a young man who, driven by despondency over the direction and seeming uselessness of his life, leaped off the Golden Gate Bridge. In the instant the railing was out of reach he was struck with a clear and unavoidable knowing, "Everything is fixable, except this."

He was one of the small percentage of people who survive such drops and his story is somewhat known. 

As an effort to escape personal torment suicide completely fails. Tom Sawyer came back from his NDE and taught this, "Suicide is the saddest thing free will allows us to do" and "Suicide doesn't work." 

In the words of Rudolf Steiner, "In addition to the sudden feeling of being 'hollowed out' the suicide-er is filled with an intense awareness of everything that drove them to the suicide, and also of their complete inability to do anything about it."

Would a more general awareness of these teachings help prevent suicides? Hard to say. But if it saves even one, it's worthwhile.

It's a big order but, may we sit this Sunday for those who have taken that horrendous step and for those who consider it. May deep spiritual teachings be known and accepted. May all find the courage and strength to complete their natural lives. 

Reverently submitted,

Richard