When I was a Sophmore I went on a retreat that my high school has. Branded a religious retreat, it isn't focused on religion at all, atleast for the most part. It's a three day retreat on a camp ground, 120 kids, 40 leaders (Juniors), and a few teachers.

Second day, one of the leaders gave his talk, which is basically the person telling you about something they have went through and how they got through it. This talk brought me the closest to crying I have been for a very, very long time.

The story goes like this, from what I can remember.

His father was an incredibly healthy, and strong willed person. His life was great, and he was just so happy with his family as a whole. He had two younger brothers and a very loving mother. Life was just good and perfect.

Then, his father was diagnosed with Lou Gherig's disease. This disease eats away and causes muscles to atrophy. Over time, you are essentially watching who ever has it slowly, and painfully, fade away.

During this, his father kept going to work until he simply could not. He was then bed ridden. And his job was to help his father use the bathroom, and bring him food/drinks and overall take care of basic needs. His Mother would take over for the most part. But things got incredibly demanding, his father continued to deteriorate, and when you see someone become a weak, and destroyed shadow of who they once were, it eats at you. It breaks down your spirit, your soul, your entire being. And that's what happened to him.

Because he had to help his father more and more he began to become frustrated. His grades plummeted, his friend left him because he could not hang out. And what he had left was a family broken and devoid of spirit and hope. Holding on to a life precious to them as long as they could.

He began to hate his father. He began to hate him because he needed so much, because he took away so much from his life. That he lost everything because he was dying. He stopped caring. About everything, family, his life, everything. He was the man of the house, taking care of his two younger brothers. He stopped helping, and blew everyone off.

He started doing drugs. Starting with weed to help him forget. Then cocaine, then Oxy/Cough syrup. He began to do as many things he could so he could get away. So he could experience something other then hatred and depression. He didn't value his life anymore. He had given up. On everyone and everything.

He looked to God to help him. And things never got better. He tried, and tried, and begged. But nothing. So he gave up, and lost faith. He put everything down.

He was poised to take his own life.

And then someone entered his life, a person who would remain to be his bestfriend forever. Someone who helped him comeback. Helped him realize things were good. To love his father in the last few moments he had. He had hope. But then something turned the tables once again.

He came home one day to his mother crying. To paramedics in his home, and his fathers room. His father had died. Slipped away, before he could spend another moment with his father. To make things right.

Gone. His love, and his heart broken. Devoured, shattered to dust. He was broken.

What happened next, is something amazing. My entire school jumped to the aid of him and his family. He joined a group in school, a group I now participate in because of him. And through that, he absolved for his sins. He gave back to the world what he owed his father. To help those, so they don't fall into that dark hole. Something I live out now, for the same reason.

The song he played after is what wrecked me. I know some of you dislike this song, but listen to the words and it's application to his story, and you get it.




His story touched me, and nearly brought me to tears. I have never cried, for anything, even family deaths. I was devoid of those emotions because I was hated at the time. And I had nothing, my family had told me I was a failure, and that I was going to be homeless. My dad told me he was dissapointed to have me as his soon. And down the path I fell.

Now I'm here. Now everything is good, and perfect. My dad apologized a few months later, on his own accord.

This is not debate on whether God is real or not. It has nothing to do with it. It's about being thankful for what you have, and for the people you love. For the families and friends you still have. And that there is hope no matter how dark and desolate your situation may be. The world has a way of coming around. And it will.


TL;DR - You should really read this.

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:04:18 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:03:56 PM

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

No, I just don't get why someone would spend all that time caring for someone when it's pointless anyway. Why waste your time in something that's inevitably going to die?

...because it's his father?

Are you kidding me?

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:06:35 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:05:36 PM

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:04:18 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:03:56 PM

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

No, I just don't get why someone would spend all that time caring for someone when it's pointless anyway. Why waste your time in something that's inevitably going to die?

...because it's his father?

Are you kidding me?

No. I genuinely don't understand why you would do that. I wouldn't expect anyone to waste their time on me when it's a pointless endeavour anyway and I sure as hell wouldn't waste my time doing something when it's guaranteed to be a waste of time.

Then your an odd one out.

If you wouldn't try and help someone you love suffer less pain, then your fucked up.

It's your opinion though

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:10:24 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:09:14 PM

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:06:35 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:05:36 PM

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:04:18 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:03:56 PM

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

No, I just don't get why someone would spend all that time caring for someone when it's pointless anyway. Why waste your time in something that's inevitably going to die?

...because it's his father?

Are you kidding me?

No. I genuinely don't understand why you would do that. I wouldn't expect anyone to waste their time on me when it's a pointless endeavour anyway and I sure as hell wouldn't waste my time doing something when it's guaranteed to be a waste of time.

Then your an odd one out.

If you wouldn't try and help someone you love suffer less pain, then your fucked up.

It's your opinion though

I would. Just that if they're going to die anyway, why not just get it out of the way sooner? They don't have anything to live for and they're just dragging everyone else down. If I was in that position, I'd pull my own plug.

Maybe I'm just cold hearted, but I see things in a view of what I get out of it versus what I lose by doing it. And the situation isn't worth anyone's time.

It's incredibly cold hearted...

Idek what to say man

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:04:18 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:03:56 PM

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

No, I just don't get why someone would spend all that time caring for someone when it's pointless anyway. Why waste your time in something that's inevitably going to die?

Because that's life? Nothing lasts forever, we all die. That doesn't me we shouldn't care for and spend time with each other.

Quote from: Assassin 11D7 on November 30, 2014, 07:16:07 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:05:36 PM

Quote from: BC on November 30, 2014, 07:04:18 PM

Quote from: BaconShelf on November 30, 2014, 07:03:56 PM

I don't get it.

It's not a joke...?

No, I just don't get why someone would spend all that time caring for someone when it's pointless anyway. Why waste your time in something that's inevitably going to die?

Because that's life? Nothing lasts forever, we all die. That doesn't me we shouldn't care for and spend time with each other.

That's fair enough, but going out if the way as much to make your own life worse is pointless. It just wastes your time.

What isn't a waste of time if you look at it that way?

I'm thankful I'm a logical person who doesn't fall for this psuedo-religious psychobabble emo horseshit OP is trying to shove down my throat.

It's a true story but...

BC don't give a fuck

Must resist urge to type fake and gay

Must resist urge to type fake and gay

It's not a fake story...?