JourneyOnline
Sid Harta Publishers, 2009,
RRP $24.95
Reviewed by Rev Dr Marian Zaunbrecher.
ONE WEEK before Christmas last year my son attempted suicide.
My family and I are still trying to sort through the pain, grief, hurt, confusion and guilt.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in this country.
More people die from suicide than breast cancer or road accidents.
Yet, our communities, and the church, are yet to face this issue and off er support and care for survivors and family.
So the story of a husband losing a wife to suicide could have helped me understand my own emotions and experiences.
Noel Braun’s wife, Maris, had a lifelong history of depression.
On 30 October 2004 she took her own life.
Mr Braun’s book was written in the aftermath of her death.
It describes their love story and his pain and guilt as he attempted to come to terms with her death.
At all times his memories, love for her and his faith console him.
I found the first few chapters riveting.
My own pain welled up inside me as I read but I found his answers to his grief unsatisfying.
The overwhelming message to me was that it helps to have money so that one can travel the world in order to deal with your pain.
In the long run, I have to find my own solutions to my own grief – and perhaps that was the lesson from the book.
If you do find yourself deeply depressed and hopeless please ring Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
www.beyondblue.org.au
