When all feels lost, find hope in faith

His name was Kevin Hines. Kevin battled a bipolar disorder in his teenage years. At age 19, Kevin’s depression and his feeling of being alone in the world led him to the Golden Gate Bridge. Kevin’s story is related in his documentary “Cracked, Not Broken”. He relates that, as he approached the guardrail of the bridge he was thinking, he was begging, “if one person, only one person, would speak to me, ask if I’m ok, or even smiles at me, I will tell my story, I won’t jump”. He was surprised when a woman approached him, then asked him to take a picture of her and her friend. Kevin complied, took a picture, and stepped over the guardrail. Voices in his head were telling him to jump – in his desperation, he let go of the guardrail. He relates that, the second he let go, he regretted that decision.

Kevin prayed as he descended the 220 feet to the water, “God, please save me. I don’t want to die.” God heard his plea. A sea lion pushed him above the surface of the water and swam beside him, continuing to push him up, until he was rescued by the Coast Guard.

Close to 2000 people have attempted suicide by jumping from that bridge; 25 have survived. Kevin has survived, and spends his time speaking about suicide and mental health issues. His purpose is to inform, to tell his story, to tell how God saved him.

September is suicide prevention month. The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming has taken a lead in educating about suicide awareness and prevention from a faith perspective. I was privileged to attend a workshop for faith leaders and mental health workers on September 10. I have taken similar classes and workshops, and while they have been very informative and helpful in teaching the signs one might exhibit if contemplating suicide as well as teaching how to ask the question “Are you thinking of killing yourself by suicide? Do you have a plan?” --- they didn’t really address how the faith community might be involved, or even that the faith community should be involved.

Soul Shop Movement is an organization equipping faith community leaders and other people of faith to save lives and bring hope to those impacted by suicidal ideation. One simple suggestion they offer is that we sincerely greet one another by recognizing that our lives would not be the same without them – we are so glad to see them. They remind us that when we meet another and ask “how are you” we should really listen to the answers we get. Do we really want to know when we ask the question? Are we prepared to listen – simply listen – to another?

We remember how Jesus interacted with those along his journey. He SAW THEM! He spoke to them. He listened to them. He offered hope along the way – to the woman at the well, to the leper, to the blind and to the deaf. He listened to the pain we all experience throughout our lives.

The Scriptures are God’s ‘user manual’ for us on our life journey. Generations of Christ followers have used them --- or tried to use them --- to guide their lives. Jesus tells us in John 13:34 “So I give you anew commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. “For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another everyone will know that you are my true followers.”

Jesus spoke to his disciples “Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to me. Now whenever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” Matthew 28: 18-20

If you have taken the time to read this article you might know me. If I ask how you are, I pray I will really mean it and I pray I will really listen if you tell me. I pray we all may have eyes to see, ears to listen, and hearts to love.