Working in a mental health center, we have been inundated with people talking about the coming end of the world.  I would never make fun or light of someone else's beliefs so it's been a challenge to have meaningful dialogue.  My real concern is for a woman whom I admire who had pulled herself up from a homeless/on the street existence to a good life with children and a grandchild.  She wants to kill herself because she doesn't want to see the end of the world.  I asked her to just not do anything rash until after the 21st.  I promised to call her on Sunday morning to check in on her and her family.  She said, "you believe we'll be around on Sunday?" and I said "Yep.  I believe we'll be around.  And if it's truly the rapture, I believe you're one of the truly good people". 

Well, you could have knocked her over with a feather.  "I'm a good person?"  So, we had a discussion the upshot being that she agreed to hold off on any plans to end her life until after the 21st.  I told her to go ahead and hoard all the water, toilet paper and canned goods she needed to in order to maintain her feelings of safety but to hold off on the suicide. 

This has been the scope of so many of our conversations this week.  It's been a long while since so many people have had end-of-the-world thoughts.  It's important to remain respectful of other people's beliefs and I try hard to do so.

I am not a believer.  I don't believe in heaven or hell.  I think that this existence is the only one you get so you should make the most of it and live it to the fullest/best you can.  I believe in karma and I believe that you keep coming back to learn lessons you failed to learn in a previous life (not as a cow or a bug but as a person).  Eventually, you get to become one with the universe and a part of all creation.  I know this is simplistic but I am a truly simple person. 

I hope that I haven't offended any of you.  It's not my intention to denigrate anyone's beliefs or belief system.  My husband is a Catholic and still carries strong beliefs from childhood.  I tried to give my children enough information to make choices for themselves.  (I taught Sunday School in the Catholic church for a number of years and loved it.  Mostly I loved the spending time with small children bit). 

 

It's just been a bit odd.  This has all come out of nowhere.  I don't listen to the radio too often and then when I do, it's one or two stations, so I missed this whole build up.  Now, suddenly, there are buses with adverts on them and huge billboards and the word 'rapture' is on everyone's lips. 

 

And here we are, dealing with people who have issues with reality on a good day.  My standard answer has become, "I don't know what will happen,  but I believe you shouldn't do anything rash just yet".  It seems to be ok.

 

Is this a big deal where you are?  Or is this a local phenomenon?  I purposely haven't followed it on the computer (although I plan on talking about it in group this afternoon, so I'll have to wade through it this morning) so I may be a bit behind the curve.