Former resident writes ʻJewels in the Junkyard'
EL DORADO — “None of this nightmare made any sense. I had to choose to trust God and God made it quite clear that He was taking care of her and I learned to rest in that,” wrote Warren Ludwig, a former resident of El Dorado, in his latest book, “Jewels in the Junkyard – An Artist’s Journey to Find Healing After Loss.”
Ludwig is a 1975 graduate of El Dorado High School and currently resides in Overland Park, Kansas. He retired after a 35-year career as an illustrator, animator and humor writer with Hallmark Cards and is now a freelance artist, according to his mother, Dee Ludwig, who still resides in El Dorado. He is the son of the late James “Shorty” Ludwig.
Warren Ludwig and his wife, Cathy, were happily married for 30 years, Ludwig wrote in the book. He said however, that happiness was often challenged by Cathy’s struggles with multiple chronic health conditions. Even after countless visits to doctors and a surgery, “she continued to suffer from severe pain for over 15 years. In April 2010, Cathy felt she could no longer bear the burden and took her own life.”
The book is the story of Cathy’s struggle to find healing and Warren’s reflection on grief and suicide, an exploration of spiritual questions and an “art book,” including several photographs by Cathy and drawings by Warren. It is also about hope rekindled and of beauty found in the midst of brokenness.
Ludwig shares honestly about the events leading up to his wife’s decision, his emotional confusion about the “goodness of God,” and his determination to try to rebuild a new life filled with promise. The book offers encouragement and grace to those who must face the loss of a loved one.
“I would never have imagined that I would one day write a book about grief,” Ludwig wrote. “I am a person who has gone through extremely difficult circumstances and I am learning how to live again.” Seven years after the tragedy, he wrote “Jewels in the Junkyard” and said, “With God’s help, you can love life again.”
“Cathy was my very best friend. We raised two daughters, were active in our girls’ activities and went to church like many do every week. She struggled with chronic pain for at least half the marriage,” he wrote.
“Cathy was a photographer and when her health allowed, we would often go on artistic adventures together. The week of her death, I found a note she had written to me and left in the safety deposit box on the back of the note was a ‘PS’ which said ‘keep painting, sketching, drumming, exercising, ha ha. Love life and travel for the both of us.’ Her words have become a driving force in my journey ever since.”
Ludwig said he and Cathy met on a blind date in December 1979 in Kansas City and they had several things in common – one was their love for Jesus Christ. “We fell in love and married six months later,” he wrote in his book.
Throughout the book, Ludwig told of his wife’s struggles with numerous physical ailments for many years and a surgery that the couple was very optimistic
about to lessen her pain. However, after the recovery time had long passed and Cathy continued to suffer with similar and additional pains, she felt she could no longer endure, Ludwig wrote in the book.
He shared numerous Bible verses that helped him during his time of disbelief and grieving, including Psalm 31, Psalm 107: 26-30, Psalm 13:2 and Hebrews 11 – “the champions of faith” chapter.
The book offers encouragement and grace to those who must face the loss of a loved one and is available from Amazon. com. It includes photos of some of Ludwig’s artistic endeavors – drawing, painting and illustrating broken pieces of objects he finds in junkyards.
“I knew that God was the only one who held the full truth of the matter. He was the only one who saw the big picture and how these events in my broken world would play out in the years ahead. And there was no hiding my true feelings of anger and doubt from God. He already knew what I thought anyway,” he wrote.
Ludwig’s book also includes “lists of things you want to do” and things that have helped him during his sorrow and the “reconstruction process.”
Ludwig said he loves being a dad and grandpa and now he spends his time as a “maker of fun things.” He is an avid urban sketcher, sculptor and painter and some of his creations can be viewed on his blog at www.ludstuff.blogspot.com. Prior to “Jewels in the Junkyard,” Ludwig authored two children’s books and illustrated several books.