Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Not Me. I Think I'm Gonna Stick Around.
I found out Friday night that two women from my former church had committed suicide last year. I knew them both. One did it in the spring. Michelle put a letter in the mail and walked into the water. So these words from a Randy Stonehill song have been on my mind:
Danny was an actor He was quick and he was good But his eyes betrayed a sadness that troubled me One night they found his empty car down on the beach He'd just taken off his clothes and walked into the sea
(Chorus) Not me I think I'm gonna stick around I've just got to find out how this movie ends And as I stumble through the mystery of this life I'm gonna keep on trying To find a friend
I was closer to the second woman, who killed herself in the fall. I'd just seen her a month or two earlier at the congregation's 25th anniversary celebration. Debbie was a vet tech who came to my house four years ago to put my cat to sleep. As practical kindnesses go, it was one of the ones for which I've been most grateful. And now that memory is corrupted by the knowledge that, just as she'd done for my kitty, she brought drugs home from work and put herself to sleep.
WSC #68 was part of our worship service yesterday:
Q. What is required in the sixth commandment? A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
It is not only a certain knowledge by which I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word, but also a wholehearted trust which the Holy Spirit creates in me through the gospel, that, not only to others, BUT TO ME ALSO God has given the forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation, out of sheer grace solely for the sake of Christ's saving work.
On August 28, 2007 7:32 PMRuthannewrote... Valerie, I am so sorry. Suicide is so jarring. A few months back I was surprised at how deeply affected I was by the suicide death of Brad Delp, former lead singer of Boston. Suicide is most definitely a selfish act but it's also an act of profound desperation. Heartbreaking.
