Imagine your life, or your child’s life following its course and then an abrupt and brutal turn. The sudden onset of Schizophrenia. A violent shock to what was. A loss. At a loss. And a soul rendered desolate and alone.

When one understands the context of a life, the situation might seems different.

As I came to understand the nature of the disease, I imagined Mark to be one of the most courageous film subjects of my last decade. I’m left wondering how he could sit this fragile yet this unflinching.

These few minutes point to a possible part for us in all this. An important part in the difficult circumstance of another. Being there, without judgment or advice. That is something we might give. If we were to notice.

NOTE: this film portrait is not entertaining or dramatic in the modern day fashion. It almost serves as the perfect invitation to sit and to be there, in contribution. With unflinching strength. Your undivided and so still attention.

Janet, Mark’s Mother, was also filmed for the Series. Her film can be seen HERE. After watching both films, take the sum of both and I imagine you will have a near empirical measure of true strength and courage.