Thought for the Week: The light shineth
John Myhill reflects on the struggle with depression
I have been struggling with depression much of my adult life: not mine, but that of other people. I am one of those annoying people who are, generally, blessed with happiness, so working with people who suffer the distress of serious depression has not been easy. This was especially true of those Christians whose beliefs made them feel guilty that they were not feeling the joy supposed to derive from salvation. For some, despair was the sin against the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin!
Our Meeting house in Norwich could suddenly disappear down a sink-hole (this happened to a bus in Norwich). More likely is the sudden death of some member of the Meeting. Such tragic and surprising events are part of life, not causes of depression. Norwich Meeting is, after all, neither the Meeting house nor the individual members, but rather our relationship with the Light; the love that enables us to forgive others and care for those who make us miserable.
My wife is from a Yorkshire pit village. Miners did not descend into a pit of despondency but brought up black diamonds, and thus their pay, to the surface. When we came up from visiting the coalmine, at a mining museum, the light was most wonderful and the colours much clearer.
Surely, it must also be so for those recovering from depression? I am not talking about mania, which is a quite different experience, but rather the release from depression to a state in which most of us function that seems almost miraculous to those recovering from depression.
John’s gospel contains the phrase: ‘And the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not’ (John 1:5). It is no use telling someone with depression to look at the positives, or trying to cheer them up; but depression is not contagious, so you can spend time with those suffering this distress, listen to them and show them that they are valued, although people who have experienced depression themselves are much better at this than I am.
Daniel was cast into the den of lions, but had no fear. Joseph was cast into a pit by his brothers, but became top man in Egypt. And Jesus was crucified. These are, of course, great stories of hope, because they show that the actions of men are turned to the purposes of God; but also because they show that the Light understands despair.
My life has been hugely enriched by those I have known who were suffering forms of mental distress. Much of life cannot be experienced from the inside, but we can accompany those who have those experiences; we can listen and grow.
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