LIFE IS FRAGILE - BOURDAIN

[Gabriel Suarez]

I heard it when Awerbuck shot himself after being given a diagnosis of terminal cancer. And heard it after Bourdain's exit from the stage. Everyone is an expert on the matter until they are the ones facing unfaceable shit. In any case...I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's shows as they were refined yet not too much...and they had an international flair that only those who venture from the shire would understand. When I heard he was into JuJitsu, I liked hm even more.

Yes he killed himself. But as the sage commented..."There but for the grace of God..."

We all have demons and darkness. And not all of us can submit them..and then for how long.

Here is an interesting collection of posts attributed to him.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/anthony-bourdain-jiujitsu-secret-reddit-posts-1268801/

[Marco Innocenti]

To die as they lived.

On their own terms, by their own choices.

Though I may sometimes judge, what I actually seek is some understanding.

Not only of their decisions, but of how they may represent and expose my own fears and frailties.

We strive to live as Lions.
And we hope to die as Kings, sword in hand and honored by our fellow Warriors.

[LawDog]

He was a fascinating man.

For better or worse, I’ve spent a lot of time with addicts, and he definitely was one. These days, the idea of using drugs to open your mind has fallen out of fashion. But I think there is something to it. There is something in that altered consciousness that allows you to view life from a different vantage point. Addicts often have unique and interesting ideas. And the addicts who kick the drugs and replace it with something more productive (exercise, work, art, jujitsu) often go far.

He was the skinniest glutton I could ever envision, but that seemed to be the sin that tormented him. He just had no portion control. Given his inability to regulate his food or alcohol consumption, I’m surprised he never overdosed when he was using heroin. (If you actually look through the Bible to see what God says about alcohol, you’ll find that on most occasions that we are warned about alcohol, we are also warned about gluttony. The two things are tied together. But you’ll never hear a sermon about gluttony in a Baptist church.)

His gift with words is almost unparalleled. While he never smuggled guns to a rebel faction, he got as close to being Hemingway as anyone in his generation. I hope he found salvation by the end. I hope he’s at peace.

[Gabriel Suarez]

Hemmingway...yes indeed. And I will argue that choosing your own end doesn't cancel our salvation...regardless of what the clergy may say.

[Knowledge]

We’ll see, talk to, and learn from Samson on the other side. But seriously brothers, finish the damn job you have been given. Literally for Christ’s sake. Mission first!

[Gabriel Suarez]

In Awerbuck's boots...faced with a slow debilitating end, I would have done the same.

[Knowledge]

I said what I said. I ain’t arguing. People have to choose what they choose.

[jmoore]

In Awerbuck's boots...faced with a slow debilitating end, I would have done the same.

My father made it through both Saipan and Tarawa, as well as several decades stateside following the war.
However, his battles with three different types of cancer was just more than that ol Devil Dog could deal with.
If I ever find myself in a similar position, I hope I have the courage and resolve that he did. Hoo Rah Devil Dog!

geezer john

[Medvetz63]

Hemmingway...yes indeed. And I will argue that choosing your own end doesn't cancel our salvation...regardless of what the clergy may say.

You’re 100% correct, suicide does NOT cancel salvation once it’s attained.
Deliberately sinning after salvation can cause loss of blessings and rewards, but not the loss of salvation, because it’s a free, permanent gift that’s not dependent upon works.

[Ragsbo]

One can never know the demons another is fighting and what they think they must do to win,