Several days ago I participated in a Walk for Hope hosted by Columbia County Prevent Suicide. It was the third annual walk. I had attended the first one which was in a different location and it seemed there were many more people in attendance. This year the walk was held at the High School Track.

I have a somewhat funny story to share with you although a little sad. I heard a name read and know a person of the same name so was a little surprised that I had not known about his death. I looked around to see if I could find someone who knew the person I knew. Spotting someone I knew I quickly walked over and repeated the name that I had heard read aloud. Some people have a given name and then a different name they use so I wanted to find out if it was the person I knew had both names. I approached the man and said both names and this is how the conversation went –

Me: Was that so and so’s name I heard read?

Man: Yes, it was.

Me: Really? He’s dead?

Man: Yes, he’s dead.

Me: So and so is dead?

Man: Yes, yes he is.

Me: No, I didn’t know. Nobody told me.

Man: Oh, I’m sorry, you didn’t know?

Me: No – nobody let me know that so and so had died.

Man: So and so? No, he’s not dead. His dad is dead. Nobody told you?

Me: Oh! Oh! Ok . . . yes, yes, I knew his dad was dead. I’m glad to know so and so is still alive!

The conversation was kind of like that old Who’s on 1st? conversation.

But I’m not sharing it with you so you can have a chuckle. I’m sharing it because it so true that suicide is complicated and there are some indications that suicide does run in families and that some people think it is an ‘easy’ way out of this world. But it isn’t very easy at all. The pain and grief that family members and friends bear when a loved takes their own life is difficult to bear. Feelings of shame and guilt and failure complicate the grieving process. If I had only loved them more, If I had only cared more, If I had only . . . Actually, these same questions often occur when someone dies a natural death.

Grief is complicated . . . very complicated . . . preventing suicide is also complicated . . . ultimately everyone has to help themselves somehow through this life – we help ourselves by helping others, but there comes a time we all have to know how to reach out for help and to accept help.

Sometimes it seems to me that the very best way we can help prevent suicides is by helping people understand that there is no shame in getting help. Somehow, we have to find a way to make getting help easier and more affordable. We have to be able to talk about how and why people choose not to take their own life.

I will share with you that I am a 60 year old woman who has contemplated taking my own life in the past – when I was young adolescent. Why didn’t I? I didn’t want to put my family through the pain of having a family member who had given up on life. So I went to a school counselor and doctor and worked at loving myself enough and hoping for a better future. And then many years later after a terrible experience I thought about it again – and again – it was hoping for a better future and life digging into the Scriptures and pressing in closer to God’s love and strength that pulled me through . . . When I suffered a betrayal I thought about it again and thought – no I will get better and pressed even closer to Jesus Christ and asked for the Holy Spirit to help me have strength enough to overcome this spirit of death that was pursuing me.

Jesus Christ was given to the world to lead us out of death into life – For me – that means out of a culture of death and into a culture of life . . . Life is Good!

After the walk I was talking with some people and one said that when he was depressed one day he saw a bumper sticker on the car in front of him – – “Life sucks, then you die.” We both said – “I hate that license plate!” What a terrible message for someone who is depressed . . .Even with terrible things happening around the world – some natural events and other brought on by our own actions – choosing to seek the good things about life and doing something to change what you think sucks is the best way to change the world – choosing how to live better is the best way to change yourself, other people and things in this world. Choosing to love yourself when it seems that nobody else does and loving other people through tough times is the best way to help prevent suicide. We have not been created to be isolated creatures living apart from one another – we have been created to be in relationship with other people . . . to help each other up, emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally. We are better in relationships – sometimes we have to seek better relationships or to improve the ones we have. . . but choosing to live is a blessing. I now have children and grandchildren and they have friends and family. There are 11 people living today who would not have life today If I had chosen to take my own life any one of those times. And I can tell you that I believe many people have been blessed with friendship and faith because of their presence in this world – all by God’s strength, power and to His glory!

Let us pray,

God, thank you for giving us life. Thank you for the gift of the life of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank you for leading us out of death into life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Please pour your life giving Spirit upon all those who are suffering with thoughts of suicide. Help them to draw life and breath from you. Send them people to lift them up and raise up more workers to care for those who suffer such thoughts. To those who feel no hope – please give the gift of Hope in better times ahead this moment. Thank you again for the gift of life and for the gift of the Holy Spirit that gives people strength and courage to live through tough and lonely times. AMEN