Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
Pastor’s Ponderings
This has been a trying week for the students of Absarokee High School as they come to grips with the suicide death of one of their fellow classmates. They have had to work through grief, anger, loss and pain. The Absarokee school administration was proactive in bringing in counselors, social workers as well as area pastors to help students, staff and faculty process through this tragic event in our community. After the funeral the reminders of loss will still be evident to the students even though they are starting to move on from this event. Our care and concern cannot ebb after the funeral. We will all need to have a greater sensitivity to the emotional needs of the youth in our community. In the next three to six months statistical evidence shows others may attempt suicide. Emotions may come to the surface that an individual thought were dealt with, for no explained or apparent reason. Being an adolescent is difficult enough, but with an event such as a suicide brought into the emotional mix, the volatility of adolescent youth can become even greater. In Montana we are very vulnerable to suicide; Montana ranks first in the country in suicide deaths per capita. When do we say: enough is enough? When do we take a greater proactive approach to the care of those who are the least significant, the ones lost on the fringe and those who feel they are of little value? We are also at a disadvantage because we are geographically isolated, money for proper mental health care is scarce, and there is a stigma attached to seeking help for emotional issues. We cannot be afraid to discuss this problem with each other. We cannot ignore our neighbor in emotional distress. We are a community and God calls us to care for our neighbor and to look out for our sister and brother. Christianity is not so much a belief, but acting on our faith through action. We will be known by the fruits of our faith. We are not called to be passive Christians but active, living out our faith.
If you need to reach out for help please contact myself, or online at www.warmline.org or you can call 1-800-273-8255(TALK). With the 1-800 number, you place your request to speak with someone, leave a phone number where you can be reached and a call is placed to you. Do not be afraid to offer your concerns to the person who you think is stressed to the breaking point. Offer to go with them for help; listen to them, be present with them during their time of trial. We are all in this together, neighbor caring for neighbor.
This has been a trying week for the students of Absarokee High School as they come to grips with the suicide death of one of their fellow classmates. They have had to work through grief, anger, loss and pain. The Absarokee school administration was proactive in bringing in counselors, social workers as well as area pastors to help students, staff and faculty process through this tragic event in our community. After the funeral the reminders of loss will still be evident to the students even though they are starting to move on from this event. Our care and concern cannot ebb after the funeral. We will all need to have a greater sensitivity to the emotional needs of the youth in our community. In the next three to six months statistical evidence shows others may attempt suicide. Emotions may come to the surface that an individual thought were dealt with, for no explained or apparent reason. Being an adolescent is difficult enough, but with an event such as a suicide brought into the emotional mix, the volatility of adolescent youth can become even greater. In Montana we are very vulnerable to suicide; Montana ranks first in the country in suicide deaths per capita. When do we say: enough is enough? When do we take a greater proactive approach to the care of those who are the least significant, the ones lost on the fringe and those who feel they are of little value? We are also at a disadvantage because we are geographically isolated, money for proper mental health care is scarce, and there is a stigma attached to seeking help for emotional issues. We cannot be afraid to discuss this problem with each other. We cannot ignore our neighbor in emotional distress. We are a community and God calls us to care for our neighbor and to look out for our sister and brother. Christianity is not so much a belief, but acting on our faith through action. We will be known by the fruits of our faith. We are not called to be passive Christians but active, living out our faith.
If you need to reach out for help please contact myself, or online at www.warmline.org or you can call 1-800-273-8255(TALK). With the 1-800 number, you place your request to speak with someone, leave a phone number where you can be reached and a call is placed to you. Do not be afraid to offer your concerns to the person who you think is stressed to the breaking point. Offer to go with them for help; listen to them, be present with them during their time of trial. We are all in this together, neighbor caring for neighbor.
posted by RevLev at 1:15 PM
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