Re: Advent Day 24

Joseph Scriven also wrote 115 other hymns besides "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

He had a tragic ending to his life:

From Wikepedia:

"Scriven drowned in 1886 at age 66. It isn't known if his death was an accident or a suicide, as he was in a serious Depression at the time. A friend reported, "We left him about midnight. I withdrew to an adjoining room, not to sleep, but to watch and wait. You may imagine my surprise and dismay when on visiting the room I found it empty. All search failed to find a trace of the missing man, until a little after noon the body was discovered in the water nearby, lifeless and cold in death." He was buried next to his second fiancée in Bewdley".

For me, reading that does not lesson the beauty of his story. I find people that fight for joy and to help other people in the midst of their own heartache to be even more inspiring. He was human and he suffered greatly, yet he still found hope in Jesus, even if he did get overcome by despair. It doesn't mean he wasn't saved even if it was suicide that ended his life.

Scriven's story reminds me of William Cowper, who also wrote some of our best hymns. Cowper had a tragic childhood and then later in life he met the love of his life. But for some reason, they were prevented from getting married. Both of them never married and they were both grieved because of that for the rest of their lives is how the story goes. Cowper, like Scriven, was driven to help those in need. He had a heart for the suffering. But he was overcome by despair too and it was very hard for his best friend John Newton to see him that way, yet Newton stayed by his side until his death, assuring him of God's love.

Mental illness is a very tragic thing, but just like all other types of illnesses, it doesn't mean God has abandoned people that suffer from it. Why he doesn't take it all away, I don't know. Maybe we'll understand all that better one day.





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