Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California is an unlikely force to be reckoned with. He looks like the nice guy down the block who always invites you to his neighbourhood barbecue. In fact, he started a congregation thirty years ago which now has upwards of 20,000 people in worship at a variety of services. He wrote The Purpose Driven Life which has sold millions of copies. After Hurricane Katrina he started the drive to pay the salaries of pastors who had lost their churches in the devastation. He has been very involved in addressing AIDS in Africa. While I don't adhere to some aspects of his conservative theology, I do admire him. Hey, I follow him on Twitter.
I am also praying for Rick Warren and his wife Kay in the loss of their youngest child, 27-year-old Matthew. Matthew has experienced a life-long battle with depression and suicidal thoughts and finally succumbed. In a letter to his vast congregations Warren offered:
Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others. I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?
You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," Warren wrote. "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.
This is incredibly sad, as every suicide is. This sort of depression can affect anyone, from any background, and despite the deepest faith grounding. Matthew had spent an enjoyable day with his parents and went home to take his own life. Somehow he could not find the purpose and hope for his life in the midst of illness. There is no rhyme nor reason for what grips those who suffer from severe suicidal thoughts.
I invite you to pray for the Warrens as well. Do you have any observations or comments about all this?
Nothing makes me sadder than hearing about yet another young person taking his/her own life.
ReplyDeleteFamily can do everything possible to try to help their child cope with depression and suicidal thoughts - constantly showing and telling them how much they love them, taking them to doctors and experts for help, doing whatever they can to raise their self-esteem - and yet, the child still takes his life.
If I could change one thing in this world, it would be some magical way to stop the thousands of young people who take their lives each year.
God Bless Pastor Warren and his family.
Sadly I know this scenario all too well. Roger's very perceptive comments reflect my thoughts. My heart aches for any and all families living this horrible loss.
ReplyDeleteWe often don't know what Gods plan is, we just need to have faith that it will all work out in the end.
ReplyDeleteLike Janet I'm just all too familure with this scenario.
Interesting that this blog followed Sunday's sermon on DOUBT....which takes me to sjd's comment....hold on firmly to your faith in God's plan.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these comments. I appreciate that sjd and Janet responded knowing what you have experienced.
ReplyDeleteWe may not have 20,000 in worship on Sunday, but you have been committed to your faith community and it has been committed to you.
It is horrendous that people have criticized the Warrens for being bad parents and Matthew himself for not having enough faith to go on living.