Money or Suicide...hummmm

I was disturbed to hear a report of a German billionaire who at the age of 74 killed himself. Of course the facts I have learned all come from the news media and so must be viewed through a rose colored magnifying glass. He spent his life building a family fortune by establishing a variety of companies and over the last year with the global economic crisis and speculation in Volkswagen stock came to the brink of ruin. Now in my own mind a man who can build a billion dollar empire has the guts, intelligence and ingenuity to begin again or preserve what is left. 70 years or not.

But instead he chose to stand in front of a train.

Greg says, suicide is the ultimate of self importance. That this man's view of himself is more important than his family. I believe there are times in every one's life where we get to the edge of the black hole and if we love, we chose our family and not our self. Thus we live another day. As I ponder this, I have an inkling that this man was so fearful. His family in a released statement said, "the uncertainty of recent weeks and the helplessness of no longer being able to handle the situation, broke this passionate man."

So, instead of the memory of a man who worked hard, built an empire and who showed everyone that the tough keep going...he leaves his family with the legacy of suicide and the inability to redefine himself.

Geez, what a waste...because not only is he dead but he leaves a legacy of suicide for generations of his family. How he chose to alleviate his own pain and fear, now leaves his family to deal with these uncertain times without his vast knowledge.