I HELPLESSLY WATCHED A FRIEND KILL HIMSELF WITH FOOD!

I once had a friend named Dave. Although he was as strong as a mule, he was one of the gentlest souls I've ever known. Granted he had his faults but in the 30 years I knew Dave, not once did I hear him make an unkind comment about anyone. That's a rare quality. David was gentle, loyal and kind. Unfortunately for him and me, he was also morbidly obese. 
 
David had a wonderful singing voice. He accompanied me on many of my speaking tours across Canada and the United States and often sang inspirational songs after my speeches. David was so unassuming and modest -- audiences were stunned that such a superb voice came out of him.
 
Many of my venues were rather dressy events and all David had were gigantic T-shirts and formless sweat pants. He could not find a suit to fit. My wife is an extraordinary dress maker so she used her talent to make him a suit.
 

How does this relate to human dignity? Assaults on human value and dignity take many forms. We must not forget that everybody possesses natural human dignity that started with the spark of life we often refer to as conception. At some point in his life, Dave ceased to believe in his own worth. He ceased to believe in his own natural human dignity that is rooted in the image of God that was his (whether he believed it or not).

 

Dave experienced much emotional and spiritual pain in his life which he buried deep inside. There were people who loved Dave, but somehow something happened at an earlier time in his life that made him incapable of receiving their love or even believing he was worthy of being truly loved. (?)

Food became Dave's comfort -- a kind of salve to temporarily relieve his soul-pain and inexpressible sorrows that haunted him throughout his life. As Dave's weight and size increased, the simplest things like sleep became difficult. He slept leaning on a chair because laying down made breathing too difficult. 

Food was his seductive enemy that increasingly isolated him from a world that prizes the slender and fit and increased his sorrow. Many people recoiled at his extreme obesity and turned away in disgust.

Dave had an aversion to doctors and had not seen one in years. I begged him to see my doctor but he would not go. He ate more as though he was committing suicide by the installment plan. It worked.

One day I received a call from Dave's sister: He dropped dead of a heart attack. He was 48 years old. My friend was gone.

If over consumption of food is a problem for you or a loved-one, please seek help to get it under control.
 
Recently I came across a widely viewed video on YouTube. It had another morbidly obese man (much younger than Dave) with a gentle demeanor and an exquisite voice. He reminded me Dave.  See below. -- MDP