Health Tips

written by Karl Shallowhorn �In the washing of the water will you take it all away Bring me something to take this pain away� Peter Gabriel In churches around the world we celebrate the day that Jesus was baptized by the prophet, John the Baptist. This ritual has been replicated for millennia since then and this means of consecration is a way for us as Christians to annually be

written by Lisa LeSueur This month, Coral Gables Congregational UCC (CGCUCC) marks the end of the first year since the congregation voted to become a Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged (W.I.S.E.) church. Following the 10-step process to declare ourselves W.I.S.E. was just the beginning of what has become a dynamic and life-giving mental health ministry of the church. The mental

written by Hannah Campbell Gustafson Last week, I went to an information session on a curriculum for organizations or schools on �compassion resilience�. I was there to think about ways in which this toolkit, or some of the pieces in it, might be used in the organization of which I�m director, and I�m looking forward to using some of the exercises and tools with my volunteers. But while

written by by David Finnegan-Hosey The first time I ever understood the Nativity, I was in a village called Yanoun, in the hills above the West Bank city of Nablus. I was there to visit friends who were serving, on behalf of the World Council of Churches, as nonviolent accompaniers alongside the Palestinian villagers. We were given a tour of the village and surrounds by two young men, both

written by Bob Griggs For people living with mental or physical illness, as well as those who are grieving or struggling with problems in their lives, Christmas can be a difficult. The way one really feels is at odds with the message of the season to rejoice and celebrate. Instead of joy, one feels isolated and excluded, sadness is added to sadness. Many churches are recognizing this

written by Karl Shallowhorn We�re now in the season of Advent, the time of the year when Christians across the world are awaiting the coming of the Christ child. Much of this expectancy is built around preparing the way for Jesus. We also hope. Hope for a better world. For the many individuals, like myself, living with mental health and/or addiction disorders, the concept of waiting can

written by Kirk Moore What Do You Do with the Mad You Feel? by Fred Rogers What do you do with the mad that you feel When you feel so mad you could bite? When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong... And nothing you do seems very right? It's so easy to feel angry. About the treatment of people who live on the margins About unchecked praise heaped on flawed and sometimes harmful leaders

written by Rachael Keefe Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 Thanksgiving has come and gone. The last Sunday of the liturgical year (Christ the King/Reign of Christ) has been observed. While stores have had Christmas items out since before Halloween, before the sunset on Thanksgiving Christmas filled the stores. We�re in the midst of it now, the beloved or dreaded �holiday season

written by Rev. Megan Snell I am someone who lives with chronic mental illness. Many days I am stable, clear-headed, calm, focused, content. I�m a person who gets a lot done in a day. I live a full and fulfilling life full of ministry, music, friends, family, creative pursuits. But other days, I find myself sinking, weighed down by depression. I feel it in my body, in my bones. I feel like I

written by Karl Shallowhorn It was about a month ago that I received a text message from an old friend. She shared that a good friend of hers� son was in the midst of a mental health crisis and asked if I would be willing to speak with her. As is my custom I did not hesitate to reply, �Yes.� When speaking with the mother I could hear the pain she was experiencing. That feeling of

written by Lisa LeSueur I always wake my daughter up in the morning by gently touching her shoulder and giving her a five-minute warning that I�ll be back and expect her to be up and about. One day last week, when I touched her on the shoulder, she bolted upright in bed and sleepily told me �Mom, they shot Santa!� She asked me if she could have a few minutes and fell back on the pillow

�Jesus stood still and said, �Call him here.� And they called the blind man, saying to him, �Take heart; get up, he is calling you.� � Mark 10:49 This coming Sunday�s lectionary texts contain the story of Bartimaeus, one which has taken on a particularly important meaning for me as I have learned to live with the invisible disability of bipolar disorder. On the surface, this is a standard

written by Karl Shallowhorn �But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint..� Isaiah 40:31 I was listening to an episode of NPR�s �This American Life.� One of the segments featured a college admissions director who was sharing about parents who have attempted to imitate

written by Bob Griggs While I was in worship recently, the officiant during the invitation for communion invited us as a �broken and hopeful� people to come forward to be served. As I waited for my turn, I looked at those who were in line in front of me, wondering how in their lives they had been broken and where in their lives they had found hope. This helped me to feel closer to them and

written by Kirk Moore Keeping up on current events buy reading, watching, or listening to the news is not great for my stress level. Sexual assault, tears, anger, gaslighting, tragedy, demeaning words, belligerence, desperate grabs for power, earthquakes, tsunamis, fighting, war � it�s all not only demoralizing, but also anxiety building and exhausting. This weekend I reached a �I

written by Alan Johnson Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 I'm sorry for not raising more hell about the mental health and criminal justice systems. ---Alan Johnson I want to reflect on why I did not raise more hell, as Parker Palmer writes, �on behalf of

written by Karl Shallowhorn �Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.� Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Last week was Labor Day in the U.S., which is celebrated annually on the first Monday in September and is a creation of the labor movement. Dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, it constitutes a yearly national tribute to the

Written by Lisa LeSueur It�s a rainy Labor Day in Miami due to a tropical storm moving through so it will be a day spent inside. I know my blog is due, but no idea has come clear to me yet. I set out instead to begin cleaning out old cabinets and boxes with the hopes of feeling productive while my kids are still asleep. As I sift through mounds of paperwork and old pictures I come across

written by Hannah Campbell Gustafson My husband and I have been parents for almost seven weeks now, to a wonderful baby girl named Leona Joyce. Back in April, I wrote a post about post- and peripartum depression, and the stigma I sensed and feared, as well as some scripture that gave me comfort. I�m only at the very beginning of parenthood, but I thought I would report back briefly. I

written by David Finnegan-Hosey Scripture has a funny way of reading us. My first post for the Journey blog was called �Taking the Armor Off,� a reference to the ill-fitting armor Saul tried to get David to wear before his battle with Goliath, and to the different types of ill-fitting armor that we wear in order to try to make ourselves invulnerable. So I had to chuckle when I looked