A call in the middle of the night. A 17 year old boy, less than 3 months away from graduating from high school, has committed suicide. His family hurts. His peers at school question.
What would you say to this family? What would you say to his friends from school? Where is God to be found in such a turn of events?
In the end only God is God. No theological study, no dogmatic teaching and no zealous evangelization is going to change that. God's historical track record is One who just doesn't give up on us. The God that Jesus spoke of is a loving father with arms ever extended, inviting us to surrender to that love and live our life within his embrace. God is not bound by our judgmental pronouncements and narrow mindedness. As a person of deep spiritual hunger and profound faith, I am banking on God who is merciful beyond all telling and who is much more generous in extending grace to us than we are toward one another.
In the instance of suicide we must keep in mind that sin has always been seen as a willfull act to do that which our informed conscience knows is wrong. What can be willfull about an act that's shrouded in desperation, aloneness, brokenness and hurt? Can anyone be more "lost" than at that moment when life has become so unbearable that the only way out is to end it?
Our religious tradition has much to say about the importance God places on seeking the lost. And so I leave you all with one final question to ponder...
Would God - no, could God - abandon such a person?
May peace be with you and yours...
© Copyright 2005 gentlefootprint. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment