T
he American public, including
Christian communities rarely escape
the overwhelming presence of mass
media (television, radio, and print).
Now with the new media formats (social
media), our minds are bombarded with mes-
sages about violence, suffering, tragedy, and
pain that might be self-inflicted or caused
by others. No matter the source of news,
Christians must deal with external events
that cause internal pain and/or physiologi-
cal imbalances that cause internal pain. In
either case, life can hurt and it will get you
down. How do you cope with the inevitable
treacherous road of life? Who is there in
your most difficult moment(s)?
Within the last month, the American
public and the Christian community was
reminded that everything can appear to be
“fine on the outside” and “unstable on the
inside”. A Chicago Tribune headline read,
Anthony Bourdain suicide a reminder of
celebrities’ distance from us. Among Chris-
tian and non-Christian families, millions of
people feel isolated, abandoned, unloved,
betrayed and experience a host of other
emotions or feelings. Despite what the world
seems to use as a measure of success, both
Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade ended
their lives, leaving many of us to ponder
“what could cause such pain that you take
your own life.” High-profile news stories
seem to bring us to a place where we stop
for a moment and ponder the troubling
questions of life:
What causes a person to go on a shooting
spree that kills innocent people?
What causes a person to be depressed? What
causes a person to give up all hope?
Why do I go to church and still feel lost?
How can I help my sister believe that God
has a purpose for her life?
Why did God take away my spouse, mother,
sibling, friend, etc?
What am I supposed to do after my son,
daughter, friend, or other loved one was killed?
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
I remember seeing a poster that stated,
“Emotional Trauma Can Manifest Itself as
the Blues” — Project Blues.
Everyone experiences emotional trauma
at various points along the journey of Life
yet, mental health remains an uncomfortable
and often sensitive topic even among Chris-
tians. Spiritual health or spiritual well-being
seems to be a more palatable conversation.
There is a quiet stigma, an uneasiness about
the subject of suicide, depression, mental
illness, seeking therapy, and how does
the Christian deal with pain. Are pastoral
counseling services adequate in meeting
the needs of all those entering the worship
centers? Many Christians may even mask
the pain by displaying spiritual maturity.
Is spiritual maturity a vaccine to counter
depression? How does it work for non-be-
lievers?
There are so many questions about
mental health or mental well-being that it is
difficult to get all the answers in one place.
In fact, mental health professionals may not
have the answers.
HimPower is exploring this sensitive
topic and hopes to provide the reader-
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