Those North American Kids

I heard a preacher on T.V. the other day responding to a report on the increase in teen suicides in North America.   He rather callously made a comment to the effect of "they should try living in Africa for a while then they would know what real suffering is".

I would like to lovingly respond to this statement.

First of all you must realize I am not saying that North American kids could not learn a great deal from what their peers go through in other parts of the world.

 Nor am I in any way diminishing the terrible suffering of children who are starving and disease ridden - as residents of a country with one of the highest standards of living in the world we MUST reach out in aid to these children ( and adults) in an effective manner.

But here is what we must realize - once our basic needs are met ( food, clothing, shelter, medical care etc) this is when the epic battle for our hearts and minds really steps up. 

Again, I'm not saying that nobody in Africa faces these battles as well but we cannot and MUST NOT make light of or ignore what those in North America are struggling with.

It is serious, it is real and I have seen it put many kids in a pine box.

This is not because they are weak or stupid or trying to get attention.

A suicide "attempt" may be a cry for help but a death is most often when they see no other way out.  And there is always another way out - we must help them find it... or wait for it as the case may be.

We ALL have needs that are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual and we can all face starvation, suffering, disease or persecution in any of those areas.  

This is not about  enabling those who are consistently self-destructive ( although we need to find out how best to help them too)  but a call to tell the difference and seek to understand and help ALL people.