Hollywood Sign

I read an interesting story about the Hollywood sign. It was built in 1923 for a real estate development in Beachwood Canyon, CA and originally read, “Hollywoodland.” In 1932 a young aspiring actress, Peg Entwistle changed how people viewed the sign. She was depressed after a night of drinking about not finding work in Hollywood. So she climbed up the fifty foot high letter “H" and jumped. She was only twenty-four years old.

Far too often in life people give before they reach their goal. It’s so easy to quit in order to make the pain go away. Statistics taken in 2004 show it was the eleventh cause of death in the U.S. Most suicide attempts are not harmless bids for attention, but rather signs of extreme distress. At least ninety percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illnesses -- such as major depression, bipolar depression, or some other depressive illness, including: schizophrenia, alcohol or drug abuse, particularly when combined with depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or some other anxiety disorder.

I listened to John Paul Jackson on AWE Web TV speak about storms. When the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and the storm hit, they woke him up because of their fear.

He replied in Matthew 8:26 "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

John Paul states the reason they were afraid is because they didn’t know what Jesus knew, which was they got there. They made it to the other side and reached their destination. We are in the same boat as the disciples. Most people in that depressed state don’t realize that tomorrow is another day and they make it to the other side.

If Peg just went home and slept it off, she would have received a letter from the Beverly Hills Playhouse the next day offering her the starring role in their next production.

Lord for all the Pegs out there who want to give up, protect them from themselves and the enemy. Rescue them from hopelessness and remind them that tomorrow is another day.

© Nadine Z. 2007