2010 or Twenty - Ten

A friend of mine decided on December 18th that life was just too difficult to deal with. He went to his place of business, talked to a inventory supplier on the phone, went in the bathroom, shut the door, and shot himself to death. We were not close and had lost touch over the years. Even so, his passing was very troublesome for me this Christmas. I wonder what could have been so bad; what could have been so desperate that bailing out was the easier thing to do. He left behind a wife and two young children, an ex-wife and two older children, and many acquaintances and friends asking, "Why?" What I am realizing is that one never really knows what others are dealing with on a personal level. We go to work, home, to church, the grocery store and put on our "happy" face. We see our families, friends, and co-workers and provide our auto-pilot greetings ("Hey friend, How's it going?") and auto-pilot responses ("Great.", "I'm good.", "Fine.") without a second thought. I've offered and responded with the same questions and answers myself; endless times. What I really am trying to say is that we all can and should learn to be present in every situation we find ourselves in. It comes down to a decision. When we come in contact with someone who is bold enough to say that they are having a bad day or we know their response does not match their circumstance; decide to get involved. It could be the difference of life and death.
I am grateful for my wife and children, my father, mother, and brothers, my best friend, a good manager at work, friendships old and new, wonderful step-parents and a good life.