Hero to Zero.

This blog is often full of numbers, statistics that bore and for most meaningless maths that seem like the author likes watching paint dry. For some the numbers speak especially when the topic is close to their heart.

This week as I casually watched on TV the Samaritans speak of their works during Covid shutdown and the lack of volunteer help due to the pandemic. The speaker mentioned that on average at this time 18 males take their own lives in Britain each day. The figure seemed small relative to the hundreds dying each day from the virus but on reflection the number is staggering. 18 men each and every day taking their life literally with their hands. 18 men giving up and entering the door of no return. Each man, each life taken for whatever reason when they have reached wits end, a place of reasoning lost at the door of despair.

My good Terrance Donovan, the great photographer took that door many years ago and I remember that Friday evening when come Saturday morning it was too late. For those that go they have lost their minds and lost what we all need, that single ingredient called hope. As those around such men be we men or women we should look for the signs. Withdrawal, loss of dialogue and retrenchment, cynical comment and negative confess. To talk is the rope to cling to, which with listening ear is why the Samaritans do such great work.

We all need to pause and look around your own community your own friends, your own family to see if the cry is on their face. This week an old friend of mine called to tell me that his father had died and his marriage had broken down after 15 years. My friend whom I had not seen for many years said he called to tell me that something that I said to him 6 years ago which had finally spoken to him. Then I had told him to read the single gospel of John and read the life of Jesus Christ as told by his friend John. My friend had become ill during Covid and alone at home he took my advice and read the book of John to find revelation that spoke to him and brought him back from inevitable despair and a very dark place. He rang to thank me.

When you do speak to your friends or those around you then you will never know the impact of your words and the life it speaks. 18 per day is 18 too many and you can help stop the number rising and claw back to zero. Be the hero that leads to zero, save lives.