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[scionofgrace]

Am attempting to find a good pair of knee-high riding boots.  Not much luck.

Am also attempting to find what I can on the spiritual gift of prophecy by people whose theology I feel I can trust, and not much luck there, either.

Comments

[girlyghoul70]

Thing is, though, in her notes for the second lesson, she brings up how we cannot know God's plans, and that this (partially) explains why some people go through horrible things. You know, "My ways are not your ways", etc. Which, intellectually and theologically, I believe. But I never thought it was appropriate to say that to a depressed person.

I have dealt with Chronic Depression throughout my life. Sometimes situational, sometimes just chemical (which is REALLY frustrating because if it hits when everything should be going right it's so hard to deal with and explain.)

But having gone through Depression and come out on the other side I can say that it's very much like being in a tunnel and then one day stepping back into the light. And it's not until one's out of the tunnel that one has the mental and emotional capacity to dissect and understand what they went through or why.

The sad fact of Depression, is that it isn't something someone can just snap out of, no matter how strong their faith or fortitude. And like izhilzha said, not everyone can "get" all of life. Lots of it is yukky and we all must face the bad as well as the good.

Telling a Depressed person to "buck up", "don't worry be happy", or that they "shouldn't" feel the way they feel, can make them feel even more disconnected and lost. Letting a Depressed person know that you are there for them and you care, listening to them and letting them share their feelings without judgement can work miracles. It lets them know that they mean something to someone and gives them a rock to cling to as they brave through the inner-storm.

I hope the women in your group come to move past the idea that their being Depressed is a sin. It's no more a sin than if they had Cancer or got hurt in an Earthquake. It's just a part of life. Sometimes we have to walk through Darkness in order to appreciate and understand the Light.

[scionofgrace]

I hope the women in your group come to move past the idea that their being Depressed is a sin.

Me too. They know it intellectually, I think, but you know how it is. There's that awful gap between knowing something intellectually and having your fears/hopes and emotions agree.