It's been a couple of weeks now since Anthony Bourdain took his own life in a hotel in France, and I'm still not sure where I'm at with this. Of course my heartfelt prayers are with his family, particularly so with his young daughter. Because this is such the tragedy, I'd decided to let it sit there for a moment, before I tried to figure out how to or even if I would deal with it. In the end, I simply couldn't NOT say....something.
I thought at first that as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I had an obligation to use this platform to do all in my power to offer words to any that might be listening or reading, be they followers or just passers by as they make their way through the volumes of pages on the internet that are surely arising in tribute to Anthony. So, I'll try. Hopefully, these few words that I offer with all of the humility that I can, hopefully they mean something to someone that needs to hear them. If not today or tomorrow, then perhaps, someday.
In my opinion, Anthony Bourdain was a genius. Like most, he was also terribly flawed and yet he did not let the challenges of his own vices disqualify him from sharing his genius, even if only for an all too short time.
I am not so self assured as to try to ever suggest that I have any idea of the weight of the thoughts, fears, pain, or whatever other dark catalysts that drove Tony to his ultimate end. I've had my valleys, some of them filled with deep despair and depression and I only escaped them with the love and help of my God and others that his grace placed in my life. It was coming to understand that no matter the situation, God Always Loves You, that helped me and helps me through to this day. So, I wouldn't dare speak a single word that could be construed as judgement of a man that in spite of his own demons still was able to inspire so many with his incredible take on culinary journalism.
So, I'll stop typing and simply take a moment and be thankful that Tony did share his genius with us. He did achieve in spite of his challenges, and in so doing it made a difference to me. It really did.
Kevin
