Being mentally ill requires a lot of patience. You have to be patient with your own mind, in the hope that it will eventually get better, and you have to be patient with those trying to treat you. Patience is one of the seven heavenly virtues and important to the Christian faith. When we are ill, […]
Hymn Above All Hymns
August 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There is one hymn that moves me like no other, one that speaks deeply to me whether I am well or ill, and which provides great comfort to me. That hymn is “Abide With Me” by H F Lyte (1793 – 1847). I love both the words and the music, and I hope you will […]
Back!
August 12, 2012 by 4 Comments
I’m back! It has been a very busy but very enjoyable week. I was looking after a group of Russians performing at a music festival over a week, making sure they didn’t have problems, arrived on time etc. I am absolutely knackered now – we started at 8am and went on until midnight! We had […]
Verses for the Afflicted
July 28, 2012 by 3 Comments
I thought it might be helpful if I posted some verses about affliction (definition: grievous pain or trouble) and how the Bible describes its purpose. You’ll note that the Bible doesn’t view affliction as always being bad, or as a punishment, it consistently describes difficulty as a way to refine us, to teach us, and that good […]
Before the Ending of the Day
July 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
Before the ending of the day, Creator of the world, we pray, that with thy wonted favour thou wouldst be our guard and keeper now. From all ill dreams defend our eyes, from nightly fears and fantasies; tread underfoot our ghostly foe, that no pollution we may know. O Father, that we ask be done, […]
Holy Suffering?
July 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There is a long-running theme in Christianity that suffering – whether mental or physical – is in some way good for us. In a way, we identify more closely with Jesus (the Suffering Servant) when we too suffer, and some people suggest there is a transformative power to our suffering. Martin Luther wrote on the […]
My Song is Love Unknown
July 21, 2012 by 1 Comment
My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me, love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh, and die? He came from his blest throne, salvation to bestow; but men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would […]
The Power of a Good Story
July 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
We have all seen them, the stories of those who have suffered and won. Disabled people face two “stories” about themselves – the disabled person as scrounger, as the faker who is in it for the benefits and not really disabled/ill (which has become increasingly the story of choice for the government/media) and the disabled […]
Seeking Relief
July 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
All ye who seek for sure relief in trouble and distress, whatever sorrow vex the mind, or guilt the soul oppress, Jesus, who gave himself for you upon the cross to die, opens to you his sacred heart: O to that heart draw nigh. Ye hear how kindly he invites; ye hear his words so […]
Troublesome Verses: Sound Mind
July 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There are some verses in the Bible which are troubling to Christians who suffer mental ill-health. Some of them seem to suggest that we cannot be proper Christians, or even Christian at all, if we have mental illnesses. One of these verses is in 2 Timothy, where Paul is speaking to Timothy: For the Spirit […]
Believer's Brain 