Daniel 5:1-12 You Don't Know, But You Know.

CW: Suicide

Observation: King Belshazzar of Babylon is having a wild, drunken party, and asks for vessels of gold and silver that he pillaged from the Jerusalem Temple to be brought in. The people drink wine from them and praise the gods of gold and silver. Suddenly, a human hand appears and starts writing something that nobody can read...creepy. Similar to the story of Joseph from Genesis, someone brings up Daniel, who has a special ability to interpret signs from God. What strikes me about this passage is that even though the King has no idea what it says, he knows it probably isn't a dinner invitation. He's pale and his knees are knocking. He knows it's not good news.

Application: This passage just reminds me that God gives us instincts for a reason. Like the King, sometimes something will happen in our lives, and if we're paying attention, we'll think, "oh, that can't be good." I don't mean anything so frightening as a human hand writing on a wall...maybe it's a friend who suddenly drops out of touch, or a son or daughter who's normally talkative becoming more distant. You don't have to be a prophet to know that the metaphorical "check engine light" has come on somewhere in our lives, and it's time to pray about it, and check in with the person we're concerned about.

I just read that in the most recent CDC report on the suicide rate among young people had dramatically increased since 2007, especially among young girls. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for middle and high school youth. Thinking about this and reading this Biblical text, I'm reminded that if we suspect something might be wrong, even if you're not sure how or what, it is never, ever wrong to check in. Call. Text. Connect. Listen non-judgmentally. Trust your instincts. You may not know for sure, but some part of you may know something that needs to be acted upon.

Sometimes, people will throw us for a loop, and the things they do will seemingly come out of nowhere. We can't hold ourselves responsible for what they do. We just can't. But also, you'll never regret checking in with someone you care about, even if you find out everything's fine, because once in a while it may not be. 

If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) at any time day or night or chat online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

Prayer: God, keep our eyes and ears open. Help us to trust our instincts, and be open about our concerns with those we c are about. Amen.