Faith

You’ll be Missed-Week of Hope


Well, we’re on day three of the Week of Hope here on the blog.

Today is a tough one for me. So bear with me if you will . . .

Earlier this week I’d mentioned that a high school friend of mine had passed away because he’d lost all hope.

On Saturday, May 15th, my friend, Brian, took his own life.

His actions affected me so profoundly it took me by surprise. I hadn’t seen my friend in nearly fifteen years. I expected to be sad, of course, he was a good friend of mine in school. But I wasn’t prepared for the level of sadness that has racked my heart since it happened.

I went to the funeral up in Minnesota last week. So many people flocked to the service it was standing room only.

It got me thinking.

Had he any idea his life impacted so many people so profoundly, would he have done it?

I’m not all knowing, but my guess is that he wouldn’t have.

He left this earth so early and leaving so many unanswered questions, the main one, for me, being WHY?

I believe he had lost all hope.

The dictionary defines hope as:

* afeelingofexpectationand desire for a certain thing to happen

“¢apersonor thing that may help or save someone

“¢grounds for believing that something good may happen

I’m not sure what your definition or idea of hope is, but you can click the word hope to see my idea ofHOPE

There are people out there who love you and care about you, even when you think there isn’t. Look at my friend, Brian, for example. I bet he had NO idea how many people his life impacted and who will forever be asking . . . Why?

~~~

7 Comments

  • lbdiamond

    I agree hope is what keeps us going. It is a hopeless situation indeed when suicide feels like the only viable option. I’m sorry to hear about your loss. It is difficult to really conceptualize an act of such finality.

  • Ozias Sanchez

    Wow, that must of been tough Lynn. I don’t know anybody personally that has done something like that; I don’t even know how I would even react to such an event. To lose all hope must leave one in most dreadful state imaginable. It’s imperative that one must never lose hope, no matter what.

  • Lynn Rush

    Thanks for the link, Kay. 🙂
    Lori–Through all this, I’m finding it has happened so many times. Such a tragedy.
    Jill–Yeah, I struggle with the selfishness concept, too. Taking the easy way out. When someone’s lost all hope, to them, there just doesn’t seem to be any way out, period. I’ll have questions the rest of my life, as you do. But hopefully a few people reading this or even seeing the link of my Facebook will see–there is always hope. No matter what. Just hold on one day at a time, one hour, one minute even.

  • Jill

    Lynn,
    I believe life ends when we take our eyes off God and start to believe hope is merely an empty promise of a better day.
    My cousin took his like over thirty years ago, but the pain he caused is still fresh in the minds of his parents and siblings. Blame and guilt can eat away at the family members they chose to leave behind. I remember writing a paper in high school a few years after about the incident. I wrote that my cousin was selfish, taking the easy way out, not thinking about those he is leaving behind. Years later, I still have questions.

  • Lori Lundquist

    I can only imagine a fraction of what you’re feeling. A recent former boss of mine also committed suicide a few short months ago – young guy, newlywed, good job, etc. – I asked myself why?? as well. But our relationship wasn’t a close friendship like yours. Anyway, hope is the answer, I agree. Another thing I learned is we should communicate our affection for each other and not assume people already know. Love YOU, sister/friend. 🙂