Our series on “Beauty” continues; however, today takes a different turn. Today, we talk about Beauty and the Beast. No, not the Disney movie! The Beauty and the Beast that we will take a look at is more metaphorical and yet uniquely personal.

Our Beauty is that person. The one who brings light into darkness. The one who stands by you while all living hell is breaking loose around you and within you. The Beauty could be a male or a female (don’t make this weird–a guy can have a beautiful spirit) and could be a friend, lover, etc. People who dispense beauty into our lives can be male or female. As a Jesus follower, this beautiful person points us to find healing in Jesus. Their presence may be quiet or loud but they consistently love you and respect you as Jesus does. In this fast-paced and often selfish world, this Beauty is rare. Thank God (and them)!

The Beast is YOU. Yes, you! I am not making fun of the fact that you look tired today or forget to wear makeup. The Beast is your vulnerable self. In this state, we are aware that we are letting someone into our scars, wounds, and successes. We are allowing someone to see our story and this is different from the public and social media version of our story. The Beast can indeed be ugly. What if they see me as I really am? The unperfect me? The still-figuring-out-my-life me? Find who you can be your Beast with.

May you find healing because someone stepped up and stepped into your life and showed you Jesus’ love. May you also return the favor!

For the next few blog posts, I will be writing about the aspect of beauty and how it affects various parts of our lives. There is something restoring about beautiful people, places, and things that bring hope and healing to us. We will explore this as spring is a natural transition of beauty unfolding before us.

Spring is here! At least, that is what our calendars tell us. Today appears to be a day that is partly like winter and partly like spring. If you need something to look forward to today, I believe Rita’s Italian Ice gives out discounts or free Italian ice today.

In the Northeast, we usually crave Spring. The barrenness of winter has passed and everyone is coming out of their caves–some people literally. This is a time of planting, pruning, and blossoming. When I worked in mental health, many people experienced their worst depressive states NOT around the holidays (Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day). January through the beginning of Spring were the worse months for anyone with mental health concerns. Why? The holidays are over there is freezing cold temperatures, very little sunshine, and what appears to be little hope.

Dead leaves are on the ground yet green grass is peeking through the pile of yard debris. Patio furniture and fire pits are brought out from storage and ready to be christened with memories of laughter and joy. Lawn mowers are prepared for that first sacred cut of the new mowing season. Evil rears its ugly head as weeds and thistles pop up in your flowerbeds to let their presence be known.

Spring breaks into nature and yet also into our heart and soul. We have needed THIS. Yes, THIS! In colder climates, I do not know many people who have not struggled mentally or spiritually through the winter. Our heart and soul have really been longing for beauty. Beauty can have many forms when it comes to Spring. Maybe we needed reassurance of more sunlight. You could equate this with needing more hope in our despair. Maybe we needed to see new life in our plants and nature. You could also equate this with those places in our heart where we know we need to take some risks with Jesus and others.

Find Beauty in Spring today. Embrace it. Love it. Thank God for it.

Moving forward is never easy. It doesn’t mean that we forget what others did or didn’t do to us. However, we need to forgive others. Not forgiving others is a toxin to your heart, mind, and soul.

Think about this last year. Who hurt you really bad? Was it someone’s words or actions? Here’s the deal, folks. The old saying: sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me. <—–Garbage saying!

The actions AND words of others will hurt. Sometimes people hurt us on purpose and sometimes they don’t even realize they shoot arrows at us.

To forgive, first go to God. Who do you need to forgive? What person or situation is bothering you? Give it to God and keeping praying to truly release it to Him. It will take more than one time of releasing them in prayer.

Ask yourself if you need to talk to this person about forgiving them. Sometimes this must occur for closure and other times it will just be traumatic for you. Talk to God and someone you trust and then decide.

Forgiveness frees you from a trapped heart and mind. It allows you to live in the now and hope for the future. Without hope, it will be difficult to see what God is doing in your life.

2023 is only 3 days from now! In the last blog post, we talked about reviewing 2022 and taking notes. There is something revealing and therapeutic (and hopefully healing) about reviewing the last year. Every year is different. Maybe your year had alot of good surprises or perhaps you had a year that was traumatic and heartbreaking. One thing that we need to do with the last year is forgive ourselves.

When I talk about forgiving ourselves, I am not advocating for some self-help tactics. Quite the opposite, forgiving ourselves means that we take a step towards Jesus. As we take this step, we forgive ourselves for where we screwed up this year. Our year might have been full of bad decisions we made or a year full of indecisiveness. Both active and inactive decisions can lead us closer or further away from Jesus and others. We give the last year to Jesus and seek forgiveness.

A lot of feelings may be brewing inside of you from this past year: joy, disappointment, heartache, failure, grief, suffering, confusion, peace, etc. Regardless of what you are feeling (good or bad), give it to Jesus. In this moment, do not look for the lesson learned. It is too early for that. You need to heal, seek restoration, and gain clarity for the next year.

Here is how this works……

1. We admit our flaws. We don’t air this out on social media or text a friend. We take this to God.
2. We repent. Repentance means “to turn away from”. We seek a better way in Jesus and this is NOT performance-based or behavior modification. You can know the rules of Christianity, have nice manners, never miss church, and still not KNOW JESUS.
3. We forgive others. (This is my next blog post!)
4. We plan and make changes. This is where you get help. Seek a trusted friend, mentor, or professional whom can help you learn and process from the last year. Process and then plan for the next year. If you hate your job, why is that? If you keep dating people who treat you like crap, then up your standards!

Give yourself some grace. Jesus has already extended it to you. Will you accept it?

Autumn is ALMOST here. Almost. However, the PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) lovers have been rushing this season since August. As I type this, I am seated at a cafe’ that has about 10 Autumn-themed drinks on their menu. Slow up!

While I joke about the early entry of Autumn flavors, we would benefit from looking at the importance of Autumn and what it does for our soul. Summer is a time where kids are off of school; however, most people go non-stop during the summer. We cram in that vacation we never took and try to make up for all of the time we spent at work all year-long. And we limp to the finish line of the summer known as Labor Day.

Autumn should slow you down. It needs to and you need it to. Why is this? There is a natural transition between seasons. Summer is time to sow and Autumn is a time to reap. It is time to enjoy the harvest. It is a time to slow down and get outside. Summer is usually a time of busyness outside –AKA yardwork, home renovations, etc. Autumn gives us less daylight but provides us with so much more: fall foliage, bonfires, cooler temperatures, and a rhythm that is sorely needed.

Autumn slows us down. Take a moment to ponder this question: do you enjoy the pace of life that you are living at right now? Is this pace of life sustainable or is it going to lead you to burnout? Even though Autumn does not officially begin until September 22, here are some suggestions on preparing for the transition to Autumn.

• Take notes in a journal or a Notes app on your phone. Document how you are feeling as Summer has ended. For most people, the start of Autumn is a busier time of the year with work and family obligations. Be honest and patient with yourself as you write.
• Plan for some fun during the new season. Do something that involves being outside.
• Do one hard thing. Clean out that room you have avoided for 5 years. Make the phone call. Write the letter. Visit the cemetery. Say “I love you”. Whatever it is, take a risk.
• Take daily walks. Unless the weather is terrible, go for daily walks. This is the time to admire God’s beautiful artwork known as fall foliage. Take pictures or draw what you see.

I pray that your transition to Autumn is one that is beautifully disruptive–a movement that awakens your soul.

If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that you or someone you know has mental health needs. Unfortunately, the public perception of mental health (MH) and what it truly is are often two different entities. I worked in the MH field for around ten years in a variety of settings. I learned from colleagues with various educations and backgrounds. Some of these people became good friends of mine. In my work in MH, the success rate of clients was much higher for people who also have “spiritual supports”. Spiritual supports may be: involvement in a faith community, a relationship with a religious leader/mentor, active use of spiritual practices, etc. And this is where the Church comes in.

In my experience in the Christian faith as a believer and as a pastor, the Church has not done well in dealing with MH. Our prayer requests in our churches are often focused on the physical and spiritual needs of ourselves and those we deeply love; however, how often do you hear a prayer request for one’s own MH needs? It is rare. It is rare because people are hesitant of how others will respond to this. Will I get judged for having this diagnosis? Will people think I need to pray it away? (I will address this later!)

Let me tell you something you need to hear. Most Americans struggle with Depression and/or Anxiety–diagnosed or not. The pace that we “do life” does not help us. The common issue here is we treat MH differently. If someone has heart issues or diabetes, we never tell them to “suck it up”. We usually respect that they need medications or lifestyle changes to deal with their physical health issues. People with MH concerns need to be treated the same way as those with physical health concerns.

What can the Church do? The Church –> AKA the people, programs, and cultures….

• Pray for ourselves. This sounds odd yet we need to do this before we can adequately walk with others. We must pray for ourselves. Which of our own mental health concerns do we have?
• Pray for others. As we pray for others and begin to walk with them through their MH concerns, please DO NOT tell them to “pray away” their struggles. Someone who is slightly anxious is one thing. A person who has a clinical diagnosis of Anxiety is another. No one tells you to pray away your Diabetes; don’t do that to others!
• Look at people as a whole person. It is crucial to know that if something is off in another part of someone’s life or body that it will impact their spiritual health. Life is a jigsaw puzzle and we need Jesus and others in the details and in the missing pieces. Be slow to speak, quick to listen, and ready to act when needed.
• Guide people to getting care for themselves. Medications, therapy, support groups, reading and writing–these are just a few of the options that people may need in their journey. Encourage others (and yourself) to get the help that they need and know that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.
• Start addressing MH concerns from the pulpit. As a pastor, we have talked about tons of stuff from the pulpit in the last few years but I hear few statements on MH. I know it is foreign territory to most clergy. We cannot be silent about this. Let’s be open to having the conversation.
• Create cultures for people to feel spiritually safe. When people come to our churches, they should feel the Holy Spirit. They should feel loved. As Christians, it is our JOB to create that. People should feel safe at church. This is also a Bully-Free Zone.

Politics is a messy world, is it not? Blue versus Red. Democrat Versus Republican. Dumbocrats Versus Repugs (I see y’all posting this! Jesus is watching you!). Conservative VS. Liberal. Right VS. Left. And then my favorite one (sarcasm intended): The biblical Vs. the unbiblical.

I am writing from the perspective of a pastor–and a concerned one. I moved to my current location during a very heated and controversial Presidential Election. People would love to ask where I stand on stuff and I usually would have half-hearted answers. I have had people tell me that I “need to pick a side.” Pick a side? Okay, well even if I have picked a “side”, they both are very flawed because there are humans being involved.

The following reasons are why I do not endorse political sides and/or candidates online:

1. It takes the focus off of Jesus. While this may sound like a Sunday School answer, I believe that too many pastors have been in bed with politics in the form of publicly endorsing people from their pulpits and social media platforms. At a time where people are spiritually starving, we are too focused on our “side” winning. I never saw Jesus getting into politics. I want to be so Kingdom-focused that my trust is fully in Jesus and not in this world or who is living at the White House.
2. It confuses people. As a pastor, I am aware that people follow me online. Some like seeing pics of my kids and some are looking for me to say something about something/anything. When us clergy start pushing a candidate or a way of politics, it confuses people. They see pastors down the street voting different ways and want to know what Bible we are reading. People are confused enough and this leads me to my next point.
3. It divides. I usually don’t even discuss politics with most people because it divides. When we talk politics, we usually want to be right. Then we try to back it up with Scripture and this usually leads to a mess because the person quoting Scripture misinterpreted the text JUST TO WIN AN ARGUMENT. I want Christians to get over themselves and be united in Jesus.

I hope this letter finds you well. In the next blog, I will write about ways for the church to address mental health amongst its members and the community. Take care!!

Everyone at one point will experience a comeback. It may be relational, professional, spiritual, financial, etc. Over the years, we will all experience this beautiful and disruptive event. This experience is a learning experience. What sets the stage for the comeback? A LOT of THINGS. Heartbreak, grief, trauma, loss, divorce, disappointment, death, bankruptcy —-these can all prepare you for a comeback.

Part #1: The Main Event–Denial is often associated with loss, grief, and trauma. As we are in the thick of our Main Event, we are grasping at every safety net possible. “If only I could……”. “I wish I could change……..”. We have all uttered these phrases. We cannot change the past. We cannot change other people. We cannot control the decisions that other people make for their lives or in reference to our lives. However, we can change how we respond. As The Main Event hits us, we start to feel out this event. Emotions hit us. Many emotions.

In The Main Event, this is when “all hell breaks loose”. Everything that was once “was” is no longer. Safety is replaced with uncertainty. Future plans are overshadowed by the darkness you are now swimming in. There is a lot of work to be done during this time. Not physical work but soul care. In the traumatic time of pain and suffering, our beliefs and faith are tested. Who are we trusting in this time? Why am I going through this?

During the dark time of your pain, be careful. Invite a few trusted people to walk with you. They need to help you walk and limp along. Make sure your core values line up to who you let walk with you. You will be like a sponge during The Main Event. This is when you are most vulnerable. And please, protect your heart! Don’t be throwing it all over the place. It is damaged enough. It will get stitched up soon.

Part #2: The Rebuild–This part of your comeback is the one that stretches what you believe you are capable of achieving. In The Rebuild, you have learned (hopefully) that God is into comebacks. God wants to heal your heart and renew your mind. This DOES NOT mean we will not have scars. When you are healed, you will have scars. Scars are a sign of God’s faithfulness during our time of healing. Scars are a reminder of God’s Story and our Story coming together as we love God and love others.

The Rebuild is probably harder than The Main Event. Why? In The Rebuild, you are laying the foundation for what life (with God and others) looks like moving forward. You are trying new things to establish your life. You are meeting new people and going new places. Your mind might be right and your heart might be stitched up but this part of your comeback makes you vulnerable. What if you get hurt? What if you fail?

Take your time and guard your heart. Set boundaries for yourself and who you let into your life. And what if you fail? Failure is not final. As we saw in Part #1, we can rise up from failure. We can learn. We can heal. We can rise. And as you are rebuilding, remember to do what someone did for you in Part #1…..

Extend a hand to someone else who is laying in the dirt with their open wounds. They need it. And you need to pass on the LOVE and HOPE of Jesus.