Suicide

Robin Williams, 1951 – 2014

Feeling compelled to comment on the loss of Robin Williams. I’ve seen comments of sadness, anger, and confusion. I am saddened by the loss. It breaks my heart that another person can feel that they have no other options and that the only way out is through suicide. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all those out there that are struggling with depression.

I also think suicide is confusing. Some say it’s selfish. I understand why people feel anger. “How can someone take their own life, don’t they realize how much they have?” It does destroy all those left behind, but I personally don’t think it’s selfish act. It goes against our basic human nature to survive. I think there’s more going on than we realize… (and I’m not talking about drugs, mental disease, and all the other variables the medical community associates with suicide)

These are old statistics, but did you know that:

• Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
• Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
• Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, ages 25-65.
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old Americans.
• An average of one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes.

Source: SAVE

Rodger Andrews, 1946 – 1975

I lost my dad to suicide when I was 5 years old. I haven’t written about it previously. The impact of my dad taking his own life wasn’t just the end of his life, but it profoundly changed the path of my life and the life of my brother. I wasn’t old enough to really know my dad. Everything everyone has ever shared with me, tells me that he was an amazing man. Probably an introvert, which explains maybe where my son and I get it from. Handsome, very smart, and a huge heart (also sounds like my son).

I remember he called me Sweet Pea… lot of things that he passed down to me that he never got to see. Good things, I think… He didn’t get to be there to protect me from the first boyfriend, send me off to prom, see me graduate, but what hurts the most is that he didn’t get to meet my family. He didn’t walk me down the aisle, he wasn’t there when my son was born, or when we adopted Angel and James. And of course he’s missed out on their lives too.

Whatever seemed insurmountable at the time he took his life was such a tiny snippet of the overall life he had yet to experience. Everyone has also shared with me that he had accepted Christ, which honestly has added to my confusion… How could someone filled with Christ take his own life? How could God/Jesus let that happen? Why wasn’t he protected?

That is why I truly believe that suicide isn’t a human action. The only explanation that I’ve been able to make sense of in my own mind, in my own heart, is that suicide is an evil action. An action that is meant to steal, kill, and destroy. To steal, kill, and destroy the life of the person and everyone around them. It is the ultimate evil action and can only come from evil itself.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The NIV translation of the Bible says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”. The thief is satan. Satan already knows that he has been defeated, but he is going to do whatever he can to hurt us and distract us from sharing the Good News. There’s Good News? How can there be Good News when we’re talking about suicide?

The Good News is Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full. I believe my dad is in Heaven now and is finally at peace. I also believe that when bad things like this happen, it’s an opportunity for believers to be reminded of our purpose. To love one another, to be kind, to remember that everyone is struggling with their own demons, and to let them know that there is eternal life through Jesus… Pray for them, pray with them, take time to listen, to support each other, to be there for a friend, for a family member, a stranger, an enemy. It’s not always easy. It seems like there’s never enough hours in the day, but when you really stop to think about it for a minute – why are we here?

Don’t let satan’s destruction steal, kill, or destroy even more. Let God’s love shine through. He is our hope. Now more than ever, we need to share that message of hope, of mercy, of unfailing love.

If you’re reading this and are struggling with depression or have thoughts of suicide, please reach out to someone – a friend, a pastor, a doctor, suicide help lines. There is help. There are people who care about you. And contrary to what you may be thinking this very moment, no one will be better off without you! National Suicide Prevention Hotline, SAVE

If you’re reading this and are not a follower of Jesus but would like to hear more about Him, I also encourage you to reach out – send me an email. I would love to explore your questions and provide additional resources. Additional resources: Mission Trails Church, The Gallery, Redeemer Baptist Church, Spiritual Warfare