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Friday, June 15, 2007

Too much sadness for a small town

This past week held more tragedy for our community. Another young man committed suicide. It seems too stark to write about it and I've been hiding from it for the past 8 days. I'm afraid to think about it because I don't understand. I'm afraid I'll start crying for all the loss and not know what to do with it. Is it silly to feel such grief for someone you haven't had much to do with in 10 years? As my friend Lindsay put it so eloquently,

"there are people out there with more reasons to grieve than I have and it makes me hesitant to grieve at all."
That pretty much sums up my feelings on this. Yet I know it's still important for everyone who needs to grieve to do so. Maybe I just haven't come to terms with the fact that he is no longer alive. It's not something anyone wants to come to terms with. I will remember him with a vitality that was hard to escape from. A smile and a laugh that was big.

My prayers and thoughts are with all those who loved him so dearly. Those who called him son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. May God cover you with a cloak of peace and be your comfort during this time and in the coming days, months and even years.

8 comments:

Lindsay said...

You were pretty eloquent yourself :)

Anonymous said...

praying for your community
I pray that anyone who feels depressed realises it and seeks help NOW
I pray that they understand that no matter how bad things may seem there is always hope understanding and care out there for them
I pray that everyone in your community begins to pull together and become more aware of those around them and in this way see when they need to step in and ask how others are

Lindsay said...

Just wanted to thank you, Erin, for being brave enough to share what you're feeling. There must be hundreds of people who feel exactly like we do this week. I know that I feel less alone now.

it's a gong show... said...

Beautifully written.

Corie said...

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about this loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to your community.

Dedee said...

Erin, I've read this post a couple of times and I don't know how to respond. Death has not hit me closely yet, nor has suicide hit me other than in a sort-of vague way. I don't understand what you or your town must be going through right now.

I guess all I can say is that I'm praying for you and your town and I hope that you will feel God's spirit in your life, supporting you in need.

Cherrye said...

Oh, Erin. I am so sorry to hear about this tragedy. I don't think it is silly at all to grieve for someone you haven't spent much time with recently. I think it is more of a statement of who he was - and who you are, for remembering the good times.

I'm so sorry...

Unknown said...

Coming in late . . .but offering hugs.

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