In the coming weeks we will be exploring questions around mental health and the gospel. More specifically the meaning of Grace amid the normal struggles of our psychological well-being as well as those times when more serious mental illness may affect our lives. It is with some trepidation I approach these questions in part because they are so intimately personal for most of us. I would hazard a guess that there is not a single one of us who has not been touched in some way by mental illness whether directly ourselves or with a family member.
It is often a topic we do not talk about or share with each other. There are many reasons for this not the least which is the stigmatization still attached to mental illness as if or struggles with anxiety, depression, or addiction were a personal failure. They are not! The church should be a space where these honest conversations occur freeing us from judgement and shame. God’s Grace leads to acceptance of ourselves and others in all our fallible humanity. The worship committee with input from church members has created a mental health resource for those who may need additional information along with various resources in the community to help us all along the way. The adult Sunday school class on Sunday mornings will be a place to discuss the various biblical texts and what they have to teach us about these questions. My hope is we will find the God-filled, gracious space to connect and talk to each other.
