What is going on?

Recently, I have noticed that there have been quite a few deaths of young famous people aged in their twenties and early thirties. What is going on?

I get an image of deep, dark pit where these people are standing at the bottom, some mumbling to themselves, others silently crying and still others screaming with their arms stretch outed begging for the happy people outside, all around them to help them, counsel them, reach them.

It makes me wonder if fame and fortune truly brings happiness or early death or the thought of suicide. It seems many of the young stars suffer from depression as a result of loneliness, drugs, alcohol, etc. Where are their families? Where is the help for them? Is the industry so polluted that even celebs can't even help each other?

I am starting to question if their doctors, therapists, etc really care about them as people, human beings or just like having someone famous as a patient. What is causing their depression and as a result alcohol and drug abuse? What is it about the industry that creates this self loath in them?

For us, the average Joe, we can't seem to understand how people who "have it all" aren't happy, content and just enjoying life. They have access to opportunities some of us only dream of having. For some of us, the thought of having camera everywhere is an invasion of privacy but we could do with some of the fortune.

It's also a great indication of how material things do not create inner peace and fill us with the happiness intended for us. God tells us not to invest in earthly goods and it's sad to think we need reminders like death to keep us on the straight and narrow.

The inventing world around us adds to the materialistic thinking too but offering big, better, faster items like televisions, dvd players, cellphones. Does this give us happiness or create inner peace? I don't think so. These things creates laziness, lack of imagination, thinking and physical symptoms like deafness. They also hinder our ability to communicate and interact effectively with other human beings.

God created us to be communal, to love one another, be of service to others but yet the modern world doesn't always promote this. God wants to shake hands, conversate with each other, help others not facebook, e-mail and what's app each other. God wants us to share His word and love by our actions and thoughts not by the material things around us.

Upon reflection, this blog seems more like a rant than a revelation. And what do I know, I'm still a growing Christian trying to figure where I fit in God's puzzle for us and for me.

Material items might give you happiness for a day, a month, a year but it will never replace of having God's love fill your soul and heart for eternity.

Connection

This past week-end the Ladies in our family, young and old, went away together. No kids, no partners, just the girls. We do this every two years and it is so much fun. We do it to re-connect with each other, spend time together and just bond.

Our lives are so busy and we don't all live close to each so this is our way of not losing touch with each other and to remind us that family is still important in between the differences, arguments. We talk about the things we often shy away from, we play games, take walks and communicate.

Feeling connected with family and friends form part of our support system and keeping close bonds with them help us to face the problems and issues we have in our lives. Knowing that they will be there to pick us up and accept us for who we are. They might not always understand the choices we make and the things we do but they are the very few people who have the ability to love us and really see who we really are.

Another great thing about being well connected with your loved ones is that sometimes just being in their company, not necessarily talking but just being together forms a bond. The ladies in our family is a great example of this as we give each other the space to be alone, whether its just lying on a bed staring into space or reading a novel in the sunlight. We give each other space but also make time to spend doing something together no matter how big or small.

Having connections seemed to be lost in today's time. Families and even siblings aren't as close as they should be. Families today hardly see each other. Of course, sometimes circumstances creates us being disconnected somewhat but that's when we need to get creative and find interesting ways to stay in touch.

Our connections help us also to feel that we are important and really "here". They are our telephone wires and when one has a crack or breaks we start to feel lost and life pressures. It creates stress and sometimes loneliness and depression. 

Don't give up on trying to stay connected. Deep down, we love the feeling of being connected to people.
We want to belong and being connected with family and friends creates this feeling of belonging.

So....STAY CONNECTED!