I admit. Sitting here this morn I\u2019m still a little rattled by the death of Matthew Perry. For those not a fan, Perry was \u2159 of the infamous \u201cFriends\u201d cast. He was known for his timely wit, not to mention the huge unveiled heart, underneath. For those of us who ventured further into adulthood with the hit series, there was just something special about each of these actors, as they oft awkwardly walked through all sorts of drama, but made you laugh at seemingly every step in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Perry wasn\u2019t technically my <\/em>friend, I felt like I could relate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That goes for me. And for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perry wasn\u2019t known for being any kind of saint. In fact, in his less than year old autobiography, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,<\/em> he is rawly honest about his so-called sins more than sainthood. As reviewed by Google Books:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn an extraordinary story that only he could tell – and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it – Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humour, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fuelled it despite seemingly having it all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perry struggled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perry was human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perry was, therefore, just like us. None of us, friends, are saints. We fit far easier in the sinners category. God love us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a life ends at an early age, it doesn\u2019t make sense. That\u2019s one of those things that I just have to trust the good Lord with, as it\u2019s heartbreaking and hurtful and so #$&*@!! confusing. But I trust He will always know more than me. I plan to have a conversation with Him about that sometime.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for now what I know is this\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord, you\u2019ve got my attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We fight about all sorts of things on this planet. We justify judgment, arrogance, bigotry and more. We even find good reasons for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We validate withholding forgiveness, not listening, and not loving our neighbor well. We feel like we get to choose which neighbors we love, somehow seeing ourselves exempt from one of life\u2019s wisest commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beauty within the tragedy is that these are moments when we are rattled, that are laced with the opportunity to do better\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 to love\u2026 forgive\u2026 ask for forgiveness\u2026 listen\u2026 restore the relationship\u2026 give thanks\u2026 and so much more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rest in peace, Matthew Perry. You are loved and respected by me and many. You were indeed our friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we be better and do better because of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soberly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I admit. Sitting here this morn I\u2019m still a little rattled by the death of Matthew Perry. For those not a fan, Perry was \u2159 of the infamous \u201cFriends\u201d cast. He was known for his timely wit, not to mention the huge unveiled heart, underneath. For those of us who ventured further into adulthood with … <\/p>\n