November 5, 2026
Note: I do not review movies or make recommendations, but if I were to do so, this is one that is worth watching. Jesus brought it to my mind this morning and I want to talk about it. I watched it recently, and I saw how compassion for another can help overcome grief.
A little background. The movie is set in Japan in a forest near Mt. Fuji and is known as the “suicide forest”. A note from google, Reputation: While it is a natural landscape with tourist trails, caves (such as the Narusawa Ice Cave), and guided walks, it has a tragic historical reputation as a place associated with high rates of suicide.
Before I saw this movie I could not imagine anyone going there intentionally to kill themselves, or the depth of their grief or pain that could compel them to choose this way to end not just your grief, but your life. What hit me the hardest were the signs that they had at the entrance, it broke my heart to read them. I don’t remember all of the signs warning them to stay on the trail, not to wander off, and that it is full of traps and is haunted by demons.
“Remember that your parents worked hard to bring you into the world.”
“Your life is a precious gift from your parents.”
I don’t want to give away the movie, but rather talk about showing compassion and mercy to others. Imagine walking into a beautiful forest full of caves, trees so dense that you cannot see the sky that makes it so dark. So inviting. Just to sit and think. While sitting and thinking, you start hearing sounds. You decide to get up and walk around and explore, all the while ignoring the signs that are posted all over, “Stay on the trail, do not go off the trail.”
You push the signs away, and keep exploring. You look back to find the trail and it is gone. You find a man who is in the same situation. You are focused on ending your life but you want to help the other person. You help him and he helps you through the forest of darkness.
He meets you in middle of your grief. He helps you to start healing. Jesus is there even at your lowest point. Jesus loves YOU!
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aokigahara
Link: https://archive.nytimes.com/lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/wandering-in-japans-suicide-forest/
You can find “The Sea of Trees” online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQvC9V1eLsE
Leave a Reply