Apr

16

Loss of Hope

April 16, 2008 |

A while back, I wrote about an incredibly tragic story.  

Michel Veillette was an affluent father of four who lived in a northern suburb of Cincinnati.  He was on the road most of the year and was pretty much an absent father and husband.  To make matters worse, he had an affair - his wife confronted him about it - both of them lost it.  Depending upon whom you believe, she attacked him or he attacked her.  She set their home on fire or he did it.  Whatever is the truth, the reality is that she and their four children died that day.  Veillette was brought up on capital murder charges and sent off to the county jail to await the trial that would probably convict him. 

Yesterday morning, he hung himself.

Quite frankly, I take the prosecutor’s version of the events that led to the death of Veillette’s family.  At some point in time, this man lost his way and the reason for his existence.  And it resulted in a tragedy of biblical proportions.

But, I had hope - that he could still make something of his life - that Christ could still use him for good.

But Veillette had lost this hope - even assuming he ever had it.  He gave up.  And his defeat just adds to what is already a sad and disheartening tale.

The Cincinnati Enquirer interviewed someone yesterday who said over and over again something to the effect of ”I bet he’s having a conversation with the devil right now.”  I hope not.  For some reason, I believe in his redemption and I don’t know why.  I believe Christ took him aside yesterday and read him two books - the first is the one of the life he lived - the other is the one of his life as it could have been.

There is really no lesson to be learned here.  I hope very few of us are screwing up to the extent that this guy did.  But, I still think that at some point he could have turned it around - before he started on the road - before he had the affair - before he “allegedly” killed his wife and kids - before he strung that sheet around his neck in a cold prison cell.

And all I can pray is that God will have mercy on this man’s soul and that this family’s loved ones and community will find the healing they need.  There is no other good to be found here.


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