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With the home surrounded, Calgary city police attempted for over an hour to contact the resident by telephone.
The initial report was that someone with a rifle was standing by the living room window. From inside the house, loud music could be heard, but there were no other signs of life.
Neighbours were evacuated, and finally the reluctant officers approached the house. To their surprise, the front door was not locked, and the dog that greeted them was wagging its tail. After ringing the doorbell and calling loudly, three members entered with pistols drawn. One switched off the stereo and shouted down the hallway. All they heard was a faint echo of his voice. Moments later, one of them thought he heard a moan and something falling onto the floor.
The officers moved down the hallway and spotted a female lying face down on the washroom floor. Beside her lay a large rifle, dozens of unspent cartridges and several knives. As one of the officers leaned over to check her pulse, he spotted several empty pill bottles beside her and blood on both wrists. No other people were in the house.
Paramedics quickly bound her wrists, started intravenous fluids and began giving her oxygen. Just before arriving at the hospital, she regained consciousness and became violent. She told me that she had attempted to take her life by taking drugs and by cutting her wrists, but was unable to figure out how to use the gun. She said, “I am tired of living and want to die. Life is too rotten, and death is much better.”
When she was safely in a hospital bed, I paused beside her. “May I shake your hand?” I asked. She nodded, and I continued, “You are one of the greatest gamblers I have ever met.”
“What do you mean?” she asked with a confused look.
“What if you lose and death is worse than your current life?”
In silence, her dark eyes stared without blinking.
“If death is worse than life, you would have been in greater trouble than you were several hours ago. I’ve heard Christians describe hell. Maybe you should check it out first.”
Dying without knowing what awaits you is beyond my comprehension. My understanding has been given to me by the Bible. This woman was given another chance at life, another chance to find out. What do you know about death and the hereafter? Read the Bible, and find out.
Jerry Raaf, a former paramedic, now lives in Abbotsford, B.C.
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