IHIJ Suicide

It happened in Jaapan today. About 100 people committed suicide. One of them told a friend he hated his life. Another had not been out the front door for 8 years. 7 of them met online, then met physically and gassed themselves in a car. One couple rented a hotel room and mixed up household chemicals dying together as the police evacuated the surrounding blocks as the stench spread. One man consumed agricultural pesticides and when he threw up in the ER, several people suffered ill effects from the gas. Every one of them felt that this life was not worth living or that some problem was so insurmountable it was not worth going on. Many suffered economic disasters, some just could not find a place to fit in, and others were just a pill a day away from stability but could not face the stigma of consulting a psychiatrist.

I SAW SANDY RUN TO YOU

A great friend, and dear sister, formerly of Bangalore, now of New Zealand, encourages me regularly.
This recent email came at a crucial point as she reminded me of how God had used us in India without us realizing it.

We must pray and believe that he is doing the same thing now.

Dear Brent,

Yes you made comments in the side of the paper. Bible correspondence course
I don't remember them except that they always made the sheets more interesting.

And you and Sandy were my favourites. I knew you more than I knew Sandy. I remember how she ran to you when she realised that Tim had nearly put his hand into a table fan, and wondered if I would find a man for myself who I would want to run to like that.

I remember being shocked that girls were not to pray aloud, and asked Sandy if Brent had never heard her pray. And she said that you prayed often together and you let her pray too. So I realised in that first camp that you two were different.

I saw you take care of Rachel and was amazed.

I often wondered why you were so indifferent to me when I smiled at you from a distance but so warm once I came close enough to shake your hand. And when I knew the reason, you became even more of a hero. But then you and Sandy did not know me very well. Not to be surprised; at the time there were many like me, but only one Brent and Sandy.

Once you came home and my mother gave you vadais to eat, and you ate about 20, unheard of, but my mother was thrilled and kept making more and more. Even that added to your hero status. ;)
I was only supposed to eat two or three! bwr

I remember memorising some portion of scripture for you in one camp, and you telling me that my cousin Sam was my first cousin once removed.

Then your copy of the book Knowing God by JI Packer, ended up in our house. It was a fine book. My father had a good impression about you, I do not know why? I think it was because you seemed to be listening to him and because you did not seem rigid about something. See, even when you are too lazy to express an opinion, you do alright.

And then we heard that you were not well. Sandy came to Bangalore to sell the furniture.

We did write some letters. I think I told you about how we had left COC and about what we were learning about the Holy Spirit. Your reply surprised me because you sounded so open. I found your comment hilarious, about how you, the sheep, could not understand what the shepherd, some Japanese pastor, was saying. Then you both disappeared and I had to really search for you for many years. The rest you know.

So in the first half of the 1980s, yours was the main face among the missionaries that I could relate to. But you did not know that, did you? So too now, through all your weakness and hospital visits and classes and so on, God can still speak. If people do not listen, God will not hold you responsible.

Of course, constant introspection is good and we must progress and improve in the way we do things.