Don't Let Them Walk Alone

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for me. While there are many great and exciting things happening in my life, I have also spent a considerable amount of time thinking about people from my past who have made a significant impact on who I am today. I want to warn you that what I am about to talk about will be very unpleasant and possibly trigger powerful emotions. 

I want to share with you some of the things I have been struggling with recently. A lot of the readers of Always in Pursuit have spent time deployed to a combat zone. Like me, many of you have lost friends in combat. We will undoubtedly carry this heartache until our time on earth is complete. As much as those selfless people matter to me, I want to focus on the people that the military has lost to suicide.

In late 2007, in Baghdad, I was sitting in our medical platoon office with a couple of people when we heard a single gunshot around lunchtime. My initial thought was that someone negligently discharged their weapon, but we all stepped outside to see what happened. I walked over to the area that I heard the shot come from. There was a port-a-john right there, so I ran over to see what happened. As soon as I stepped up to the port-a-john, I noticed blood coming out from under the door as it pooled on the asphalt. I opened the door to confirm what I knew to be true. There sat the lifeless body of a young man that I never knew, but I will never forget. I can’t say I was devastated at the time, but as the years have passed, I have never forgotten the image.

Along with that image has come an immense heartache for that young man. I will never know what drove him to the point in his life that deprived him of all hope. What was so terrible in his life that he just couldn’t take anymore? 

I have been struggling the concern that this young man has been forgotten by many. Surely there are people out there that remember something good or decent about him, but what if there isn’t? What if no one remembers him? 

I bring this up because very recently, I have been talking with someone who has been struggling in life. They are going through a hard time and struggling to find hope that tomorrow will be any better. What’s worse is that this person has a hard time connecting with others. When I hear things like that, my heart breaks, and my mind immediately goes back to the young man in the port-a-john. I will do whatever it takes to ensure this person gets the help that they need.

In previous articles, I cited some disturbing facts as they relate to connection. This week, I want to challenge you to scan your work and social circles, look for anyone struggling to make sense of life right now or struggling to connect with others. Occupations and deployments are irrelevant. The only thing relevant is that fellow humans are struggling. With pain in my heart and tears in my eyes, I beg you not to let them be alone.

~Rey