Isolation is a killer. To remain unconnected in a meaningful, accountable way with another hero is an invitation to disaster. Bob, a young man I mentored in the ministry in the early nineties was once a Wall Street investment banker. Successful. Articulate. Bright. Educated. A married family man with four beautiful daughters. He accepted Christ and subsequently sensed a call into the ministry. He planted a church in Central Pennsylvania. The ministry grew and prospered under his capable leadership. We would meet periodically over lunch, and our connection of trust allowed us to go to places of accountability that kept us both on track and healthy. Over a period of time, it seemed like he vanished. I emailed and called him several times and didnt get a response. I wrote it off to busy-ness and distractions. Then I received news that sucked the wind out of my lungs. He had an affair, separated from his wife, and a few months later, he committed suicide. I felt substantial levels of grief the morning I heard the news. Beyond the obvious, my grief was magnified by the unnecessary nature of this tragedy. If only he stayed connected to someone. Perhaps a wife would not be a widow, four girls would still have a daddy, I would still have a friend, and a church would still have a loving shepherd. Let this serve as a wake up call to all of us. We need each other, because isolation is a killer. You and I were not meant to live life alone. Men need other men to help them be men! (Steve Sabol)
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 11:38:54 +0000