Life is Worth Living

Today was a good day, but a strange day - one that I'm not sure how (or even if) to blog about. We had a fun Primary activity at the church. The kids had a big slippery slide on a hill, had an ice cold water fight ate hot dogs and chips and had a super fun morning.

Unfortunately after several hours, one of my friends realized that a man had been sitting in his car (see red box in photo above) the entire time. She asked a couple of the men to go check on him. When they did, they found out that he had taken his own life. We were all shocked and we hurried to end the activity and protect the children from seeing anything. By the time the police arrived, most of the kids had left. None of the children were aware of what had happened.

I had never been that physically close to this type of situation. Just seeing the man slumped over in his car was upsetting. Fortunately, I didn't see the wound or anything like that. He had left a note for a wife. I couldn't help thinking of his wife and the fact that she must be waiting for him, wondering where he was. I do not know who the man is. I don't know if he is a member of our church or if he just selected a place where he knew he would be found.

Even in the midst of this tragedy, I was grateful for so many things.

None of the children looked in the car.
• My friend felt prompted to have someone go check on the man.
• My friend had two men go look in the car rather than looking in herself.
• The men who looked in the car are a doctor and a physical therapist in a nursing home. Of all the people there, they were the best ones to deal with that type of a scene.

I really feel God played a part in all of the above. Most of all I am grateful that I know my life is worth living. I can't imagine how alone and/or desperate this man must have felt to see no options other than taking his own life. I feel helpless and wish there were more I could do to have helped him or to help his family.