Not easy for me to do...

[Ichiban]

As I am not a particularly religious man, this is not easy for me to do. 

My best friend, a man I had known (I thought) for over thirty year, my "go to" guy, stuck a 12 gauge in his mouth this past weekend.

This is more for his family and those he left behind.

He was a religious man, so if you could offer something up for his children (emancipated, but not grown) and his widow (shocked and devastated, as expected), I would be grateful.

I miss my friend so very much.

Thank you.

[Dakotaranger]

I wish I did.  I had a friend eat a gun last Spring that had struggled with a mental illness for most of his life.  There are things that no matter what is said is insuffcient.  Stuff like that there will always be a hole and I'm not sure that those left behind can ever get peace.  The only comfort that can be given is just time spent taking the kids out for a pop and letting them talk. 

If you're asking where he's spending eternity, only God knows.  I don't believe that it's a direct ticket to hell necessarily.

I know that you're feeling this right now and you have my sympathies

[kmitch200]

As I am not a particularly religious man, this is not easy for me to do. 

I'm not that religious either but I think I can ring up the Big Guy for this.

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[ElPasoJim]

 Dear Ichiban, I do not know what called me tonight to look into "Down Range"...but I found your request,and so I signed in and got a password, etc.
 But I don't think we do much for no reason at all, and so I want to say what is on my heart.  The God, the one God, whom I believe is called by many names and by many faiths, is a God of love and mercy.  He has seen me through many tight places and many situations -- some combat and some merely personal -- and through my experiences I have come to believe in what I said in my second sentence.
  He made your friend, and all of us, in His image. When you walk in the cave and see no light at the end, as I have done once, He is still there.  In the holy book, I believe it says His mercy endures forever. 
  See if you can just open your mind, your heart, and feel peace, even just a little. I cannot help but believe your friend has found this everlasting peace that the Lord wants all of us to have.
   

[ellis4538]

Well put ElPasoJim!  Ichiban, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your friend and his family.  You all will be included in my nightly prayer.

God Bless,

Richard 

[Sponsor]

[philw]

shit mate, that sucks the big one


My Thoughts, with you Ichiban,   also to your Mates Family,


never good to hear when that happens,   

[Timothy]

Done!

Hang in there Ichiban..

God Bless all involved.

[jaybet]

Sorry to hear the news, sorry for your loss, and we will keep the family in our thoughts and prayers. Your friend has gone on and is at peace.

[Pathfinder]

Nicely said, ElPasso.

Ichiban, finding the right words to say at a time like this are tough. He was your friend, dwell on that as you help his wife and kids work through whatever they have to work through to get the event past them and move on with their lives. Be at peace, and be his friend, helping his family.

I'll send a prayer for your friend shortly, and for your peace over this, and for his family as well. Remember this, though, God interrupts our lives in many different ways, but always with His plans in mind.

[PegLeg45]

Not an easy thing to deal with (and sadly, too many folks have dealt with this type thing at least once in a their life) and it always leaves a sense of confusion and grief.

Prayer is one of the most powerful things we have, so recognizing the need and asking was a giant step.
Prayers for all concerned.