Recently in the ‘Times’ newspaper there was an article on men’s health stating that in comparison to women, men in this country have poor health. What worried me was the high risk of suicide in men compared to women.
Having been involved in the care of the mentally ill as a chaplain in former days and also created a drop in centre for psychiatric patients when I was Vicar of Herne Bay in Kent I realise that there is a major problem.
Recently wife telephoned a local Vicar to ask about an event we wanted to attend. He was gruff, unhelpful and bordering on being rude. My wife is very easy to get on with but was taken aback by the his attitude.
My experience has been that the Church is often lacking when you are in need and have sympathy for people with certain illnesses but lacks understanding about mental illness. My door is always open to help and if you do need any support or prayer please let me know.
I have had depression myself, so I know what I am talking about. When everything around you looks black you are in a state of depression and you need help.
So please don’t try and sort out all your problems on your own. There is help out there.
The help may not be where you expect it but it is still there.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
This is a brave, heart warming and caring statement . I really hope that many people become aware of it and come to feel that there is a port in their storm, and some non judgemental help available.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
This is an honest, deeply caring and compassionate statement.
I hope that people will become aware of it’s outreach . It’s so good to know that non judgemental help is there when we most need it.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Yesterday we attended A Priest’s “Jubilarian’s Celebration” at Walsingham.
One of the Golden Jubilarians had the following printed on the back of his memorial card.
“The Priest”
The priest is not an angel sent from heaven.
He is a man chosen from among men.
This means that we priests are just as human as you are,
Not a shade different, not one bit better-
Poor weak men in need of God’s mercy.
The darkness of the world darkens our mind too.
We travel the same road as you travel,
Out of darkness into God’s light.
We priests are men, we remain men, remain poor sinners
And so we beg you,
Let us accompany you along the road of your life:
To speak God’s word to you, and to give you God’s grace.
There is so much chatter in the world,
And there are many clever, shallow words in the world.
But I ask you, my brothers and sisters,
Have we not a crying need for someone to speak to us
Of God, of eternal life, of grace, of sin, of judgement
And of God’s undying mercy?
Is that not still the most important message today?
What more do people want?
What greater and holier mission can he have than
Speaking God’s word to his brothers and sisters?
So, on such a day as this, we priests can only ask you,
Pray for us;
Accept God’s word and holy Sacramental Mysteries from us.
If we are thus bound together, priests and people,
Then we already bear, veiled in our midst
Jesus Christ, his Grace and Eternal Life.
Karl Rahner.
Having read Adrian’s recent Thoughts For The Week it struck me as extremely apposite . We are fortunate indeed to have such Priets, Vicars, Rectors, call them what you will, but people who genuinely care about those in their flock and are willing to ‘walk beside them’ along the road of life.
It’s sad that a hurtful experience from anyone is so lasting as Adrian has mentioned somewhere else. I was deeply struck by Michael Mayne’s words about it not being important to forgive and forget, but to remember and forgive. Not something I can lay claim to! I am still trying!
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Adrian,
You are absolutely right! I have worked with people with depression and there are so many people out there who are shrouded in the blackest of depression, yet are unable to reach out for help. Sometimes it needs people like you, and each of us as people of Christ, to see when someone is in need and to reach out to them in support and friendship.
Well done to you, Adrian, for reminding people that priests are as human and prone to the same ills and problems as the rest of us and a reminder that we all suffer in some small way, as Christ did for us on the cross.