Lessons on Living from the Suicide Forest

On National Suicide Prevention Day...a chapter from my book.

I remember the day well. My youngest son was a sophomore in high school at the time.
He came home one day and said he wanted to purchase a bass pedal from one of his closest
friends at school. It was Christmas time and we agreed to purchase the bass pedal providing
agreed to let this purchase be one of his Christmas gifts.
He agreed and we gave him a check that was made out to his friend, Jay. Our son talked about what a great guy Jay was.
They were part of a circle of friends that hung out before school and at lunchtime.
That day however; isn’t the day I remember well. It was the next day that I will never forget.

I was down in South Florida at a meeting and at a break in the meeting I saw where my son had
called. I called him back and learned that Jay, had taken his own life. Like that; he was gone.
Suicide had claimed yet another victim and this time it was a 16 year old boy. Unreal.
Andrew was distraught and devastated and so was the entire school.

Whether or not it’s mental illness or depression or whatever, suicide rears its’ ugly head time and
time again. I believe suicide touches us all, which makes the next story even more incredible.

Located in the NW base of Mt Fuji lies Aokigahara, also known as the Suicide Forest.
Majority of people come to this forest to be alone with their thoughts as they contemplate life.
The irony is they mainly contemplate whether or not to end their life...some come to end their life
quickly in any number of ways and some come with their tents to be alone and think whether or not life is worth living; whether or not to carry on and whether or not anyone even cares if they live or die.
The good thing about seeing people in a tent, however does mean they have doubts whether or not they’re going to end their life.

They estimate that well over 500 people have taken their lives in the area in the Suicide Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees. Because of the denseness of the forest; you can barely hear any wind or see much sunlight. The silence is almost deafening and as one person who went into the forest just to hike said, his breath was like a roar. Because of the rich iron deposits in the base, cell phones and compasses do not work. Sounds of birds or any type of wildlife is eerily absent. Silence.

So, what can we learn from this place that has become, unfortunately one of the top areas in the world to come and end your life? Isn’t it a bit morbid to think that a place where so many have taken their own life can actually teach us a lesson or two on living?

The forest is beautiful so even in the darkest hours of someone's life, they are surrounded by the beauty of nature and God's creation and they are surrounded by silence which in itself is a blessing. Seems a bit macabre, I know but there is beauty in everything we touch and do in life.
In an effort to persuade people not to take their own life, there are signs placed by Japanese authorities to discourage suicide or thoughts of suicide. Some of these signs are to remind people that they are a gift and blessing to their family. In our lives, the Universe also puts signs and people in our lives to remind us of what a gift to others we have been and will continue to be if we so choose.

People go here to be alone but, in Aokigahara no one is truly alone. Even amongst hundreds who have felt isolated and alone; it's ironic that in their final moments, they chose a place of silence and isolation to be amongst others who felt as they did. No one is ever truly alone...God is with us; the Universe is with us...Spirit is with us...Jesus and Mary Blessed Mother are with us...and our Spirit Guides and teachers and angels from the highest realm are with us.

And finally, Japan has set up suicide patrols to go in and locate the tents where there is a glimmer of hope that dwells inside. These patrols mainly go in and just talk to the people and get them to think and see their life in a different light. 

That's what we're called to do...be patrols for people who need us and be patrols for people who are lonely, and trust me we've all been there and we've all been the recipient of people on patrol who have at one time or another reached out to us when we've been down.

So; you'll never know how you will impact people in a positive way unless you try. Find your way in the forest and save someone...you'll never know when you will need that favor in return.