A man in our church was a quadriplegic and had other serious health issues. One day as I was visiting him in a sub par nursing home, he asked me if he would go to heaven if he stopped taking the meds that were just extending his life artificially. I guess I kind of gave him permission to refuse the medications, knowing that he had faith in God, and he didn't live very long after he stopped taking the meds. He had no "quality of life", though that isn't always a reason to end one's life, but as his pastor, I knew he was ready to go. He passed peacefully in his sleep, leaving behind the pain and suffering.

I'm a suicide survivor (selfish is an inappropriate description), and knowing what I do now, 25 years later, I have confidence that if I had not survived, I would have woken up in heaven. I was frankly disappointed that I woke up in my own bed.

Suicide is an uncomfortable word for many people. Spoken in a group of people, it's an instant conversation breaker. Any mention of death can be challenging. But it's part of the natural cycle of life. I choose every day to live another day, another week, another month, or just another hour. For me, it's a decision to make often. Most people never give it a thought. They're fortunate. Mental distress is hard to live with.

Jim