Podcast Interview on Depression

So my last post on depression led to Tim and Nobe from the Back to Red podcast asking me if I would be interested in doing a podcast with them and I said yes. You can head on over to their site to hear it!

You can also go directly to thier iTunes channel and hit subscribe:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/back-to-red-podcast/id940607379

(They spend the first little bit talking about The Walking Dead, so if you're not interested in that part you can skip to about 20 minutes in.)

Some of the things we discuss are:

• What depression is and isn't.
• Some positives and negatives about how church/The Bible impact a person's depression.
• Does God purposely gives people depression in order to teach them to rely in Him more?
• What friends and family should do to help someone they love deal with depression.
• Some resources, activities, or avenues that we have used to cope with depression. 

Also, fun fact, the post Tim references during the podcast as the one where he first read my blog was the one on Wrecked Theology: The Books that Read Us, from last April.

Some Real Talk on Depression

In 2001, it was a brave new world on the world wide web, the final frontier. I was in my first year of college when depression hit me hard. So I started searching online for something about Christians and depression. I came across the usual litany of oh so helpful quips about “just needing to pray more” or read the Bible more, or repent of previously unrepented sin, or “just focus on God more” if you JUST do THIS you won’t feel/be depressed because “good” Christians don’t get depressed! Now hopefully in 2015, most people know that is ridiculous. My fear is that there are still desperately hurting people who are only hearing that message.

Thankfully, back in 2001, I also came across a site which explained, from someone's personal experience, that it is indeed possible to be a Christian and struggle with depression. On this site and discussion board I was reminded that we always have hope in Christ, even when we can't seem to see it or feel it. I also realized that I was far from the only one struggling in this way. (There is now a facebook page that has developed from some of the same people behind that website.)

It has become more and more clear to me that I need to write the words I most needed and wanted to read back in 2001. Thankfully there are others doing this now as well. But the passage in Corinthians keeps popping up everywhere reminding me that it really is in my weakness that God’s strength and power and goodness is so wonderfully displayed. It is in my darkness that the light of Jesus shines brightest. I have to write (and speak) the hard things, the vulnerable things, the things I’d rather not talk about. 

So why am I writing this post?

• Because I want you to know you are not alone. 
• I want you to know that Christians do in fact get depressed and sometimes need medicine to help balance things out. 
• I want you to know that none of that makes you less of a Christian. 
• And I want you to get the help that you need.(You don't have to choose between Jesus or medication. Often times, it takes both.)

And I know that when you are in the depths of depression it gets increasingly harder to reach out to get the help you need, but do what you can. Tell at least one person you trust about your struggle. Tell them what you think you need to do to get help, maybe they can help push you to make some phone calls to set up counseling and a doctor's appointment. There have been so many times I have waited longer than I should have to get help and then when I finally did go back to counseling and/or go back on medication, I was kicking myself for not having done so sooner!

As Jamie ("the very worst missionary") said recently, depression is not a scandal. It is a real illness and people are dying because of it. And this is all the more reason why we need to be talking about it. I believe that by talking about it we can chip away at the stigma and hopefully help more people get the help that they need to fight depression.


----------------------------------------------------
Need help? United States:
1 (800) 273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Languages: English, Spanish
Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

C. S. Lewis: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Another question I am often asked is which is my favorite book of The Chronicles of Narnia. It is extremely difficult for me to pick a favorite. I have favorite scenes and passages in all of them. And you just can't beat the end of The Last Battle... but I usually end up saying The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is my all around favorite for a few reasons:

1. It has one of my favorite first lines of a book:
“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”

2. The un-dragoning of Eustace (I will write about this in another post.)

3. Chapter 12: The Dark Island

I know, I know, why is a chapter called "The Dark Island" one of your favorite things about this book? Well let me tell you. Here we find Lucy, Edmond, Eustace, and Caspian sailing towards what they believe is an island, but turns out to be only darkness. Lewis tells the reader to imagine a railroad tunnel so long, or so twisty, that you cannot see the light at the end.

"The same idea was occurring to everyone on board. “We shall never get out, never get out,” moaned the rowers. “He’s steering us wrong. We’re going round and round in circles. We shall never get out.”

I'm sure we have all experienced some darkness in our lives. For me, the darkness of depression can feel very much like going round and round in circles with no hope of getting out.

And here when all on the ship are slipping into despair, when all hope seems lost and all they feel is fear, Lucy calls out to Aslan:

"Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting-top and whispered, 'Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now.' The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little - a very, very little - better...There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship...It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight.

Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane, then it looked like a kite, and at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross...It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them...no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, 'Courage, dear heart,” and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face." - C. S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I love this so much. Because I need to hear those words, "courage, dear heart..."

Like Lucy, sometimes all I can do is cry out to Jesus, "if you ever loved me at all, send help now..."

The darkness may not fade away, but I do feel a little - a very, very little - better... for I know that in the end, the darkness will not overcome the Light. And I know the Light is with me, even when I can't see Him for the darkness.

And sometimes, in precious moments, I can hear him say, "Courage, dear heart."

---------------------------------------------

In response to the 31 Day blogging challenge, I will be posting every day in October. You can read previous posts HERE. Follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter to be notified of new posts. You can also Subscribe to get posts sent to you by email. (There is a simple form towards the top on the right where you can do this.)

Feel free to comment with your own thoughts and questions!

Index of Posts (Highlights):
Day 2. C. S. Lewis on Longing (In "The Weight of Glory")
Day 3. C. S. Lewis on Sehnsucht (Longing and Desire in The Weight of Glory)
Day 6: C. S. Lewis: The Intolerable Compliment (The Problem of Pain)
Day 7: C. S. Lewis: What is "The Weight of Glory"?
Day 8: C. S. Lewis: The Great Divorce and The Weight of Glory
Day 9: C. S. Lewis: A Grief Observed
Day 12: C. S. Lewis and Postmodernism (Part 3 - Conclusion)
Day 13: C. S. Lewis: The Grand Miracle (Myth and Allusions)
Day 14: C. S. Lewis: Is Theology Poetry? (Part 1: More on Myth)
Day 15: C. S. Lewis: Is Theology Poetry? (Part 2: Metaphors, Symbols, and Science)
Day 16: C. S. Lewis and The Trilemma Argument in Mere Christianity
Day 19: C.S. Lewis: Brief Biography: Did you know? (Part 2)
Day 20: C. S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia Correct Reading Order

Taking A Stand

A friend posted this status on Facebook, and then directly asked me to respond:

“Doing some personal research: What are some things that you have taken a stand for or seen other people take a stand for?”

Here is what I wrote:

My mind goes in a few different directions here:

1. When I was in high school I felt like I was “taking a stand” for my faith in Jesus quite a bit, because I was in the minority as far as my peers and faith were concerned. It even put me at odds with one of my teachers who liked to mock Christianity.

2. Ever since I started struggling with clinical depression and educating myself on it out of necessity, it has become more and more important to me to “take a stand” against bad theology that would try to convince Christians that there is never a need for medication or that a “good Christian” wouldn’t be depressed, etc.

3. More recently as my views/theology have shifted and grown deeper, I have developed a deeper passion to see women using their gifts and I tend to “take a stand” against any system or theology that would try to silence women. (See "I am a Jesus Feminist because, Jesus")

#2 and #3 have something in common though: that is that I want to advocate for these groups of people.
#3 also opens up so much in terms of how women are treated around the world… human trafficking… I am often overwhelmed because I want to help, I want to make a difference, and I don’t even know how, except through raising awareness and supporting people/ministries who are already involved in these types of things…

I suppose I could summarize all of that by saying I am passionate about Jesus and people and therefore I am passionate about good theology that won't harm people! =)

So what about you? What are some things that you have taken a stand for?