Wednesday, August 01, 2007

From what comes hope?

Compared to a lot of tragedies in this world, this one (registration req'd, and I don't know how long the Post keeps its articles available) may be small. Perhaps it doesn't compare to terrorism, war, starvation, or genocide. Still, it touches me deeply.

Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake were brilliant people, deeply united with one another, yet they became hopeless.

It seems that none of these things that the world values - intelligence, esteem, beauty, brilliance, riches, success - can provide true hope. Or, in the words of Arlene Landis, "All this proves to me is that worldly fame is worthless."

I have been this full of despair. On the way to work one day, over a decade ago (at close to Jeremy's age, in fact), I chose the means and site of my death that afternoon.

Providence and grace delivered me over to a better answer than to follow in my father's footsteps, and saved my family the further hurt to which I would have selfishly subjected them. But it wasn't a matter of choosing to live in misery myself rather than making them miserable.

There is a Way through such desperation. Beyond the abject darkness there is bright, joyful day, where life is indeed far better.

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