436. The Language of Glances or Why Take Your Own Life?
A relative,
20 years younger than myself on a dim November day took her own life. Her 17
year old daughter found her hanging from a cord, lifeless. And the voice that
circulated most prominently among the villagers was “Why?”
She was ill,
they say to be merciful. However there must be something that’s not right in
any person who takes their own life; and we cannot always blame it on an
illness- that may be part of the problem, but it never is all of the problem.
Basically someone who takes their own life may not do so out of desperation
alone but from a constant sense of malaise, in other words, deep unhappiness;
which may or may not be something the victim own self is aware of.
So why in
the light of such a tragedy do we find such an absurd title as “The Language of
Glances”? Frankly there are by far more spectacular titles to define such an episode
but taking one’s own life may on the outside seem dramatic, but from within the
individual there is only quiet resignation and this is usually the glance which
is registered on the face of such a person when death has made its claim.
But such a
glance was not always so- often if we had taken the time to look we would have
noticed the fear in that person’s face, the helplessness in their eyes and
would have heard the scream of despair from their lips. But hardly anyone
looked close enough and those who did, dismissed such petrifying looks as something
passing or even tantrums. But those glances of pain did not pass away, and were
far from tantrums but desperate pleas for help, for consolation, for solitude,
for understanding- in other words- they were requests for love
.
“Am I my
brother’s keeper?” is the first question that comes to mind and with equal
spontaneity comes the answer... “Yes, of course we are!” If each one of us were
to look deeply into the grooves and furrows of a person’s brow we could read a
lot more than words can tell, and maybe then we would be stirred to hold out a
hand in consolation while letting our own eyes, with human warmth, reassure
that they, these people are not alone.
But that
seems such a tall order! How can we stop and search, ponder, scrutinize the
glances written on people’s faces- we have no time, patience or the inclination
to do so- much easier to go about our own business and worry about our own
little, stingy world and let others take care of themselves! I can’t do
everything! We say. Oh but we can, if we ally ourselves with our Maker and let
His light shine through us and thus brighten the life of others and maybe
prevent the next life from being extinguished.
My tribute to those who die needlessly:
“Now cracks a noble heart.—Good
night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to
thy rest!—“
Hamlet Act 5
Scene 2
