It looks like I will be going back on my regimen of medication. Thinks have been darker than usual around here for a time. I was hoping that some situations would change to improve things, but it looks like the hard road is the road of choice. Please keep me in your prayers. I know that this isn’t the end of the world, or even some kind of failure. But that is a hard view to overcome.
In a Dark Mood…Zits
I’ve been in this kinda mood lately….hopefully it will pass soon.
That Feeling of Dread….
That Feeling of Dread….
One of those days…all about you
Understanding and Helping the Anxious
Rev. David Petersen at Cyberstones has another great post on helping the suffering. He calls it helping the anxious, but I think it really applies to how we treat anyone who is sick. Please read and check it out:
Understanding and Helping the Anxious
-DMR
Why Pastors are Less Than Human
[RANT MODE: ON]
I am increasingly amazed at how pastors are depicted or considered less than human. It seems to me like every week I hear of some story about how pastors don’t have this problem or that problem because they have such a better understanding of the Gospel.
I’m sorry. I don’t buy it. If that offends your piety, too bad. IF you think that is a sign of weak faith, I’ll leave that judgment to Christ and not to you. The fact is that pastors get tired, stressed, burned out, depressed, and everything else that flows from nearly every other vocation. It is a part of our fallenness as human beings. We are not robots. I don’t have some secret gnosis or special insight into the Gospel that insulates me from the world. Far from me. In many respects as a pastor, I believe we are more susceptible to the trials and problems of the world. There is an expectation that everyone gets tired, stressed, burned out, bored, or whatever with work. We all go through it from time to time. But not pastors. Pastors don’t go through these things, because they have Jesus (and the rest of the baptized don’t?).
Fortunately, Christ uses our weakness even more than he uses our strengths. I can get tired, stressed, depressed. It’s okay. Christ is with me, forgives me, and draws me into himself.
[RANT MODE: OFF]
-DMR
Things to Say to Insult Someone with Depression
This is a great list. I think I would probably add one more:
“If you pray more, your depression will go away.” Any more favorite worst things to say to someone who is depressed?
-DMR
Who would have thought exercise helped?
This is no great revelation to me, but it is worth highlighting. Exercise releases lots of good endorphins and other “stuff” to help improve mood and disposition across the board.
Check it out.
Now if I could only get myself to act on this knowledge…
-DMR
Improving Mood And Serious Mental Illness With Physical Activity: ”
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A new study from Indiana University suggests that even meager levels of physical activity can improve the mood of people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia.
The study, published in the November issue of the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, both reinforces earlier findings that people with SMI demonstrate low levels of physical activity…”
Robert Preus on Mental Illness
I don’t generally think of Robert Preus as the source of all knowledge when it comes to mental illness, but I ran across this article recently. It is well done. Very Preusesque, but he really understands the relationship between faith and mental illness. Here’s one citation to pique your interest:
Pastors who suffer stress and affliction, like any Christian in similar circumstances, may be tempted to look to their faith as a reason for self-esteem and assurance, rather than to the only object of faith, Christ and His pardoning Word. They conclude that failure and inability to cope are due to weak faith or the lack of faith altogether. They are viewing faith as their act rather than as their reception of God’s mercy.
Robert D. Preus, “Clergy Mental Health and the Doctrine of Justification,†Concordia Theological Quarterly 48, no. 2 & 3 (1984): 120.
I recommend this little essay very highly. Check it out. I actually think that LCMS World Relief has this online somewhere, but I can’t find it right now. Can anyone help me out?
-DMR