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Faith
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I have suffered from clinical depression for most of my adult life. This disease first manifested at a time when it was considered to be a spiritual deficiency rather than a genuine disease. And of course some people the church I attended at the time were very condemning. I also went through some terrible counselors during those years as well. I remember one who fired me as a patient because I did not agree with his diagnosis.
When I'm on my antidepressants I'm OK - you would not realize anything is wrong - but when money runs short and I run out of the anti-depressant, the past comes rushing in like the gulf waters in New Orleans during Katrina. As a former canoeist (I no longer paddle due to a heart problem), I can tell you that it feels like I'm running the danged Colorado River with no end in sight. How I pray for some flat water for a change, or at least the skills to run the Colorado.
For some reason, January and February are the most difficult months, probably due to the cold, the short days, less sunshine than usual, etc. So in 2009 I'm going to try some vitamin D tablets to see if that will help.
I am seeing an excellent counselor who is very patient and understanding ... thank God for him.
I've mentioned in responding to another question that there are churches whose members act as if they are truly in charge of the spiritual condition in the B'ham area. What is going to happen in Heaven when they get to Heaven and discover the presence of those whom they themselves would have condemned? What are they going to do with the fact that God is in control?
It would make excellent Pythonesque satire to examine their options. Would they swagger up to God's throne and confront Him with Bible verses ? Threaten to walk out of Heaven . . . where are they going to go . . . The Other Place, I suppose . . . if God doesn't kick those so-and-so's out?
One thing we Christians need to remember is that we are NOT the potter - we are the clay.
A few years ago, at the place where I was working at the time, in a conversation with a co-worker I said ". . . God is going to do something . . ." about a problem we were discussing. Well, my supervisor, who went to one of these "We're in charge" churches, called me into her office and yelled, "LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING!!! GOD DOESN'T OWE YOU ANYTHING EXCEPT FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO RELY ON HIM FOR ANYTHING ELSE!!!!" Can you imagine being chewed out for having faith!!
As the world becomes increasing more unsafe, and American politics more and more uncertain, in this election year, all of us who believe in God, regardless of our approach to Him, need to pray that we will elect to office honorable people who will put this country and our people ahead of their own personal and financial concerns. If this country falls to our enemies, the politicians will be no safer than the rest of us.
Of course, a politician with honor seems to be a dream now.
