“God’s Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control." ~ 2
Timothy 1:7
Jared was a genius! A young man with a bright future, Jared had
already been accepted into many prestigious colleges.
Classmates remember Jared as a ‘geek’ – aloof, peculiar, and
too smart to have social value. Nicknamed
“Einstein,” they frequently taunted him for his social clumsiness and his
superior intellect. Austin became the
ringleader of the horrible circus that nearly ended Jared’s life.
Tired of sleeplessness and antidepressants and counselors,
he just wanted it all to disappear. No
one valued him anyway. So he posted the
following on Facebook:
“Tomorrow I’m planning
suicide. Thanks for the memories!”
Alert parents had their 16-year old son hospitalized
immediately. Word spread quickly amid
the quaint New England village where they lived; where guilt overpowered
Austin.
Despite his agnostic tendencies, Austin felt the presence of
a higher being - a power calling him to reach out to Jared’s parents hoping a
genuine apology might erase his crushing remorse.
In the living room of Jared’s home – without a pre-written
apology or even mental notes, Austin told a story that’d been bottled up inside
him. Two hours later he’d learned plenty
about Jared. While many factors
contributed, their bullying combined with his depression, definitely led Jared
to consider suicide.
Austin couldn’t absorb everything that night; it took a few
days to sink in. Jared’s parents had welcomed
him into their home and appreciated Austin sharing another piece of their son’s
puzzled life. No anger – only love!
While doctors continued to assess Jared’s mental condition, Austin
posted a letter to Jared on Facebook and encouraged others to do likewise. He hoped a couple of responses might cheer
Jared up, might give him a reason to go on living, might convince him that his
life mattered.
He got more than a few responses – thousands actually,
letters from every continent including Antarctica. The sheer volume brightened his room a
million watts. He’ll be reading
well-wishes well into retirement – from people who could relate, who valued
life, who cared.
Jared’s journey isn’t over. He still has good and bad
days. But now he has a ‘pile’ of friends
reminding him that life is short; that his life is special.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers.
But – it’s preventable. Youth who are
contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their intentions. As parents, teachers, and friends, we’re in
the best position to notice the dangers and get help. Never take these warning signs lightly or
promise to keep them secret.
My Lord, shifting relationships with
hormones, social circles and support networks cause havoc for our teens. Help us be vigilant for warning signs of
distress so that we can help them get help. Amen
