Ballard Bullshit

But we all have those areas that haunt us. Those caverns that are private. Those areas of the psyche that have never been explained: not by Native shamans, not by Freud and Jung, not by parents. It seems each generation tries to put a definitive moniker to these depths of the human mind, to no avail.

Arguably, to possess genius is to confront demons.

After Todd's nervous breakdown, and analysis at Harborview, he went to convalesce at his folks house near San Diego. I called him. The only request he made of me, was to send him a current issue of the Bull****, so he would "keep his tap on Ballard," and have some much needed local humor. Upon his return, Todd was prescribed some of the most powerful anti psychotic/depressant, new generation drugs available. His Father, Rex, brought him back to Ballard.

Connie Kennemer, Todd's Mother:
"In 1986 my family moved to San Diego from Tucson, Arizona to start a season of ministry in a missions organization. We moved during Todd's Kindergarten year. My husband, Rex, and I had anticipated being able to put our only child in a private Christian school. The move, however, had taxed our finances and we were prevented from making this choice. We were disappointed and apprehensive about entrusting our one and only to a public school setting. In fact, my personal apprehension reached epic proportions as Todd's first day at Westwood Elementary found 2 Kennemers in the Kindergarten classroom--Todd and Mom.
"I saw and heard things that afternoon that chilled my soul and convinced me that this was not the environment for my innocent young man!. . .I can still recount the desperation I felt as I cried out to the Lord that afternoon on behalf of my heart's treasure, my little Todd."
But Mrs. Kennemer's faith would guide her through this crisis. She started a prayer group named "Mom's in Touch." "That. . .was the beginning of an ongoing prayer walk for my son. As a college sophomore Todd has been the recipient of hours of prayer, gifts of love given by women who battle weekly, praying for the lives of their children. My son's life--and this mother's life--have been molded by this hour of power. . ."
Rex and Connie Kennemer are missionaries. Connie is in advanced stages of MS. They have been Christians for decades, and tried to implant the Faith in their only child. Whatever the outcome of that effort, Todd received the ultimate gift from his parents: the gift of Love. This was cemented inside Todd as much as any DNA double helix that defines what we look like. And that was evident to all who knew him. But there are penalties when you have that much Love inside of you--you are under attack, nonstop, from the Evil forces who hate that.

The enormity of those forces were not understood by Todd. And when the maelstrom swarmed his consciousness for just one too many times, he took his life; it was just too much. No amount of medication could penetrate and calm his almost Poe-esque consciousness. The powerful vortex and pressures of Beelzebub were more fearful than life itself.

And because of that, we lost an angel.

Todd's Mother:
"For fifteen years I have had the awesome privilege of praying for Todd, one hour every week--joining hearts with godly moms, committed to their children and their God. It has changed everything. I am now a woman of prayer. Moms In Touch has the definite markings of a Prayer Revolution. . .and what about Todd, the recipient of this concentrated attention? Let me share a few sentences from an endearing e-mail I received while he was attending college in Chicago:

"An hour a week, well-spent!"

Excerpts from
Fly Away
by Connie Kennemer

Fly away. . .Child of mine
Fly away. . .It is time
I've packed up all your yesterdays
I'm framing your todays
The Lord holds your tomorrows
So I stretch my hand and say
Fly away
Prayers I whispered, prayers I cried
Asked the Lord to be your guide
He won your heart at three years old
And still we watch His plan unfold
Now you're grown and soon you'll part
Years of prayer have shaped your heart
I trust you now into God's hands
Release you now--my child, a man

©Kenn-Owen Music (ASCAP)