Making Sense of Senseless

If anyone looked at the Charlotte Observer today in the local obituary section, you couldn't help but notice a beautiful young girl of seventeen with her vivacious smile, huge eyes and lips that Hollywood stars pay big bucks for (said her dad).  She and Taylor Anne had crossed paths in fifth or sixth grade. They were two days apart by birth and shared the same gusto for life.   What could be said at a funeral for a seventeen year old girl who took her own life that would make sense?  The church was filled beyond capacity, probably 600 in a room meant for 400.  More than half were teenagers weeping for their dear friend.  The other half was moms and dads hugging their kids and thanking God for another moment to live together.  The choice to end her life was senseless but this Celebration of Life Service was so full of wisdom and brought peace to broken hearts.  Here are a few of the remarks that I digested during that hour:

Her mom wrote about her and it was shared...She loved to sing..she had pain, anger, full lips, big eyes, was a friend to so many, but she didn't see all that when she made this choice.  She only focused on the pain inside and in the midst of this sudden pain, she made a wrong choice that took her life.  No one should feel guilty, this wasn't anyone's fault...and no matter how she got there, Jesus received her and has already given her the Peace she couldn't get here.  Her dad called her "the Girl on Fire" (upcoming Hunger Games fans will understand).  She was charming, loving, spunky, funny and despite the love around her, the fire ranged within and consumed her.  The tragedy was senseless but she saved 3 lives in spite of it by wanting to be an organ donor.  When she passed, she had immediate peace from her inner turmoil. At the time of her passing, her parents felt peace in the room and as if she were saying, I'm okay and you are going to be okay too.   She is okay and I know longer have to worry about her (said dad).  Her dad asked her recently to draw a time line, put 8 hash marks on the timeline representing a decade each for 80 years.  Look at the small space that your actual high school years take up on this timeline.  Look at the bigger picture of your entire life and the value there.  Although she like many of us and many teens can make wrong choices, she did make one decision and that was to give her heart to Jesus and His Grace covers all the rest of the messes that we all make.  Why didn't God stop this?  Why did God allow this?  Because part of real love is giving someone the 'freedom of choice.' And it's because of this freedom that wrong choices are allowed to be made.  Choices that have brought death, sin, and suffering.  Everytime you think, what if, take that opportunity to love better and live better with the people who are in your life.  Why didn't He stop her from dying?  He doesn't overrule our choices.  We cling to his promises in John 14 - Jesus says, I go to prepare a place for you and doubting Thomas was uncertain and Jesus proclaimed "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one come to the Father except through me!.  And, she had done that, made that one important decision that impacted her life, trusted in Christ as her Savior.  They played a video of her baptism and we heard with her own voice how she was a Christ-follower and that was important to her.  So we know where she's at and through the senselessness there is PEACE that goes beyond making sense.  Be careful (teens and everyone) what you write, what you post, what you say about anyone because everyone has the breath of God in them.   Great verse of comfort that in spite of a wrong choice: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38

My thoughts?  I was so moved that they didn't hide the real issue of suicide.  I believe it is epidemic among our teenagers and when they are suffering, they are embarrassed to get help.  They feel like they are alone and they get lost in their pit of desolation that they can't see the light above.  By covering this issue, the voices of those who have died are silenced.  When my daughter tried to raise awareness of this very issue last fall, she was told that there were concerns that if we talk about it, then it may give teens bad ideas.   So are we not to talk about it publicly?  We talk about contraceptives, about STDS, about bullying.  Does this cause teens to want to do it more?  We need to raise awareness.  This young girl's senseless death is yet another reason.  Thank you to this precious family who bravely spoke so honestly which honored their daughter and as they said, to maybe save another life.