zggagga
16.07.04, 04:01
wklejam tutaj tekst (nie ustosunkowuje sie)
Depres and Spiritual:
Ed
What a great piece! Whereas up until now, touch wood, I have not suffered
from “real” depression, there is depression in my family---even suicide. I
wish I knew of a simple and effective way to apply the study of the
Scriptures to the healing of depression.
One thing I have found, that might be helpful (other than the excellent
advice you have already given) is that many people ---religious or not---
don’t seem to realize that we are each floating on a river and the river
naturally flows down hill. We cannot allow ourselves to blithely entertain
just any thoughts that enter our mind. Some thoughts encourage us to
just “float” and this allows the river to take us downhill. Other thoughts
encourage us to feel sorry for ourselves or find some circumstance or another
person to blame for our condition. When we habitually entertain these
thoughts, we are, in effect, “paddling our canoe down river.” We actually
accelerate the downward slide.
In the “Temptation in the wilderness” Jesus firmly rejected the devil’s
proposals and relied on the words “it is written”. I have learned that I have
a responsibility to reject the proposals that negative thoughts try to carry
into my mind ---on a daily basis. I see the “wilderness” as our daily lives
and I see “temptation” as all the tests we undergo daily. The “it is
written”, (if we bother to read and understand it) can provide information to
meet the daily tests of life and to “ paddle our canoe up river” (or at least
over to the bank and out of the current that tries to take us down).
Another trick I try to use is to thank G-d out loud for everything that
happens to me. I find it is especially important to thank Him / Her for the
bad stuff---yes, I said it is important to thank G-d (through gritted teeth
if necessary) for every big or small tragedy that hits us. I read a book
about this practice and it really works for me. All it means is I am thanking
the universe for the lesson that it knows I need. I am acknowledging that no
matter how bad my circumstances appear to me, I can still trust the universe
to use them for my own benefit. I can trust it to use the bad stuff to teach
me something important and to increase my spiritual strength.
I feel that people who rely totally on medication and make no attempt
at “thinking good thoughts” (and don’t at least attempt to reject unhealthy
thoughts) miss many opportunities. They miss opportunities for healing,
opportunities to learn spiritual lessons, opportunities to receive the help
that the universe is willing to provide. Of course, if we reject it, the
universe has no choice but to reject us.
This is because the universe really means it when it says,“ You are free. You
are free to accept me and the help I can give you and you are free to reject
me and do things your way without my help. The choice is yours”.