Skip to main content

Marvin and the Dreadful News

This post is painful and disturbing. Something terrible happened, and Marvin feels partly to blame. The consequences of our words and lives, even when we have the best intentions, can be unbelievably devastating..

I am in contact with Marvin and talking about having him come back North to be with family and friends right now.

this is an audio post - click to play

Comments

Anonymous said…
Struggling to find the right words.
I´ve been in a simliar situation and I can only say that although you feel responsible you musn´t blame yourself for what happend. You have my sympathies.
Anonymous said…
Marvin mentioned people in the church, including in the youth group, with which others wanted him to work. Marvin felt it was best to wait for those in need of his ministry to come to him, as opposed to going out on a "witch hunt."

Shalom, Marvin.
Anonymous said…
I'm so sorry, Marvin. This is indeed painful. I understand the pain because I had a similar emotions for a young guy who'd killed himself in the village surrounding my college (now, alma mater). While I never actually knew exactly what drove him to suicide because we never talked about sexuality, my gut ached because I kept wishing we had talked about it. It was the "elephant on the table" that was right in our faces, and it made his passing that much sadder.
Anonymous said…
Is there a news story about this somewhere on the web?
Anonymous said…
I'm reading between the lines here....but if this boys was dealing with same sex attraction.....

As a Christian, it pains me to think that the Church has made life so unbearable for this boy.

Again, if this is the case (and I don't know for sure), it makes me angry.

I don't mean this Church in particular...but the universal Church as whole.

I, too, would like to know if there is a news story that can be linked to....
grace said…
Marvin,
Those parents really need your loving heart and voice of reason. I can only imagine what some of those less sensitive might say to them which could get in the way of God's ultimate plan. He always has a way to turn our heartache around to His glory....maybe you are needed now more than ever.

love,
grace
Alex Resare said…
I have no words for this but you and everyone in similar situations are with me today.
Jonathan said…
Marvin:

I'm playing catch up today and have just heard the news. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

j.
Woodog said…
I want to comfort you Marvin but I don't know how. I'm sorry for your pain.
Anonymous said…
Take heart, Marvin. It's a hard spot to be in ... I know you feel responsible but there is only so much any of us can do in the end. We can only love people and hope it's enough ... and it's horrible when sometimes it isn't. Keep praying and listening ... Much peace ...
Anonymous said…
Marvin you jackass now maybe you will see what that stupid religion of your's makes people do! SHAME SHAME ON YOU

Popular posts from this blog

My Gay Husband--A Spouse Speaks Out

The other day I received the following e-mail from Susanne, a woman who found out her some years ago that her husband has same-sex attractions. I felt so moved by her words that I asked her permission to share them with you on the blog. I (recently) saw your Doin Time... and I was the one who asked about your wife during the discussion period that followed. I just read your thoughts on What About the Spouse ....and I can say, most women who find out their husbands are gay feel ALL of those things you wondered about....some in more degrees than others... When my husband was dragged out of the closet because of his irreverent, immoral, and amoral behavior that our, then, 14 and 16 year old sons had to find on our home computer, I went into the closet. I didn't know what to pray for.... Do I pray that this will go away? Do I pray that he could go back to the way things were in our family before we knew about him,? Do I pray that I could go back to the way things were? After all ,...

The False Image of LIA

John Smid and me-Graduation 1998 (above) & John Smid today (left) By now many have heard that Tennessee's Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities determined that the "ex-gay" program, Love in Action, is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities”. LIA has until Friday, September 23 to respond. If LIA statements in Eartha Jane Melzer's article are indicative to how the "change" program might respond, we may see LIA change right before our eyes from a clinical mental health compound into a house of praise and worship. Gerard Wellman, business administrator for Love in Action, and a former Love in Action client, said Sept. 13 that the organization has been in contact with the state but would not comment further. “As a church, we operate under a different set of rules,” Wellman said. Curious, and what rules might these be? What is even more curious is that according to LIA's site only one staff member ...

Puzzled

Last night I performed Transfigurations-Transgressing Gender in the Bible at Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church in Glen Mills, PA (about 15 miles outside of Philly). I had a diverse audience of about 45 people -- college students, Quakers, straight, bi, trans and lesbian, young and old. I took my time with the piece maintaining a gentle meditative pace. For the ending when I reveal the identity of the narrator, I had instructed the light tech to dim the lights. Then as the closing music swelled, I asked her to raise the lights to their brigthest intensity. With the music playing, I exited. Always (up until last night) at this point the audience applauds, I wait 5 seconds then come out to take a bow. Last night I exited and then nothing. No one clapped. They sat quietly as the music played. I stood back stage puzzled, baffled. Now what do I do? Wait? Go out anyway? And I wondered for a moment, Did they hate it? Did I confuse them? Offend them? Bore them into a coma? After what ...