Hurt and Healing We Can’t See

By Deacon Jessica Noonan (she/her), Executive Director at LEAD

Recently a family friend died by suicide. A young man with his whole life ahead of him, boundless opportunity, yet he couldn’t see it. What he perceived was missing from his current situation caused such pain in his heart and mind, the pain was like clouds. These clouds of suffering covered up the goodness and love that was always there but maybe out of sight from his view that fateful day. I’ve watched from afar as his grandparents, parents, teachers, friends share stories and pictures on social media of memories with this young man. They are heartbroken and bewildered by his tragic death. It’s hard to understand when you live with depression.

As a mom I worry about the young people in my family and their friends who are at high risk of suicide. As teens and young adults, there are so many more things for them to worry about and obsess over than I ever was aware of when I was a teenager. The risk for death by suicide is high. Some 2023 stats from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34.”  
• The suicide rate among males is almost 4 times higher than among females.
• There were over two times as many suicides in the United States as there were homicides.

One thing that I am constantly in awe of is the way Jesus saw the humanity in each person he met and made a point to connect with them in an authentic way. This week I’ve been reflecting on the story of Jesus healing the leper in Mark 1:40-45. The man has been living with skin disease that kept him out of relationships, community and human touch for probably many years. He approaches Jesus asking, “If you are willing, make me clean.” Jesus has an emotional reaction as the text says, “he was moved with pity”, tells the man he was willing and then touched him. Jesus touched him. Jesus didn’t have to touch the man to heal him physically. The touch was another kind of healing. This was the healing of his heart and mind.

The holidays are a time of year when people deal with stressful family dynamics, there is less daylight, and possibly more days/nights alone. There is a deep need for healing that we can’t always see with our eyes. Be mindful of your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and family who might be at risk. How can we offer a visit, meal, coffee date, or phone someone who is more at risk? How do we become more mindful of noticing the people around us? How can we be more like Jesus, by intentionally reaching out with meaningful connections with those around us?