Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
Blog Number 13
April 29, 2019
Suicide is Painless, Not!
Easter is a wonderful holiday when we celebrate new life, new opportunities, new hope. It was sad that just three days after Easter our town suffered massive traffic jams. A train was stopped, causing east/west traffic to come to a stand-still. The train was stopped because a man from a neighboring town knelt down on the railroad tracks to end his life. The train could not stop in time and the man was killed. I cannot imagine how much pain he was in to make him think that suicide was a good option. Perhaps he remembered the line from the theme song of the TV show MASH, “suicide is painless.” The problem is that suicide is not painless for those around us.
I don’t know who the engineer of the train was who hit the man, but I am certain that he will feel guilty for the rest of his life. I don’t know the family status of the man who wished for death, but I am certain that there must be some family and friends who are now asking “what could I have done for him?” I bet there are co-workers asking the very same thing. When we commit suicide, we inflict pain on those around us.
This is a plea to anyone who is in such pain that they are contemplating suicide. Please don’t. I know your pain is great, but to kill yourself will only transfer that pain to those around you. I am certain that you really don’t wish to hurt others, but your suicide will do just that. Please find someone to talk to instead. There is a twenty-four hour a day hotline for anyone considering suicide. Please call instead of acting. The number is: 800-273-8255. Suicide is not painless. Please protect those who know you and give the number a call.
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To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order a copy of his book: https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/
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