**NEW**

Making the transition. Find me HERE

Today's Edition.

I have come to appreciate times of struggle in my life. Not that I welcome a trial or such, but rather that I have begun to see the opportunity it presents. These are the times when character is built. These are the times when you begin to recognize yourself with external coverings stripped away. I hate to hear of people getting upset and almost shutting down during times of trials. I know its painful--but there is no better time to grow close to God and learn who you are in His eyes while at your lowest. This quote is brilliant, and kind of sums it up:

"...meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain; meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure. And that is why we find ourselves emptied of meaning with our pantries still full." Ravi Zacharias

To me, this says that trials are actually used to create meaning in our lives. People are more quickly emptied of meaning when their "pantries are full" and everything is in place and right in their world. That is the opposite of what society teaches us to think, yet the parallel of what Christ teaches us to think. Can there be meaning in pain? Absolutely. We usually don't see this in the midst of pain because we can't stop thinking about the bubble that forms around us, encompassing our pain, struggles, hurt, and insecurity. During these times, we live in this small space, so is it any wonder that the meaning that could be gained during this time is lost? In this bubble, there is only ourself and our pain. If you are driving and you look right, eventually you will veer to the right. The result is the same when the thoughts in which you live encompass only yourself and the hurt you feel. Embrace the pain for the meaning and character it is capable of bringing.

_________

I was told my blog should more closely resemble a newspaper.

Funny, the monologue I read for a Casting call on Sunday was a reporter script.


We're going to have dinner with my older neighbors tonight. They are in their 80s, I think. The man is a funny-type of grouch and battles with depression. His wife is from Brazil, and doesn't understand his sarcasm all the time. It's hilarious. I like listening to old people talk and learning from their experiences. What can an 80 year old learn from associating with a guy in his twenties? Hopefully lots. Should be fun.

D

I have been surprised lately by how many people I know that battle with depression on a daily basis. It's something we can all deal with from time to time, but someone who is clinically "depressed" struggles with this continually, and I am finding out about more and more people close to me that battle this daily.

The constant debate on depression includes different theories, called models. There are biological models, psychological models, or combinations of both. After having training in both fields, I can tell you it is neither biological or psychological...completely. There are elements of both involved, but it is more than can be defined by one of these models. I am also not one of the people who thinks it is a spiritual condition either. I have actually heard someone say to another person, "If you are depressed, you must be in sin." Come on.

The reality is that for the most part, depression is individually based. There is not a continuum for the model because personalities and traits vary, therefore the way depression effects people will vary with each person. But we seem to think that even with this information, we can treat depression the same way across the board. Does that make sense to anyone?

I can tell you prescription drugs are not the solution. Although they have helped some people, there is danger in using drugs like this as a blanket solution. Two people close to me have used them with very bad outcomes. I have seen doctors prescribe these with little know about the person (Not the doctor's fault--this is what the system teaches). I cannot offer any perfect solution, but here are some facts, and some trends I have observed.

Facts:

-There is NO WAY to measure a neurotransmitter (aka: brain chemical). We prescribe SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), and we understand how they work based on blood levels of a Serotonin precursor. Brain fluids of some people who suffered with depression have shown low Serotonin levels, however, this cannot be measured in a living person's brain. Traces can be found in the blood, but this shows nothing about the activity in the brain.

- We know little about the mechanisms of depression. Because of this, there is a fair amount of guesswork involved.

- The drugs which target depression and have effects on neurotransmitters are known to have those actions, but can also effect several other things of which we know little about. Because of this, there is a potential for adverse reactions that we are unaware of at this point.


Some things I have seen work:

(Again, the way depression effects people is an INDIVIDUAL thing, so there is no solution that works across the board. But, here are some key things people I know have done that don't involve medication that I have seen help them.)

- Change of diet. (Eating healthier, increased vitamin intake. Obvious benefit)

- Exercise. This has been shown to have a direct benefit to NT function and emotional stability. I have seen this help people more than any other thing. Simply walking around the block daily would change a depressed person's mood drastically. Unfortunately, when someone is in the state, the hardest part is making it out of the front door. Once they do, the benefits are felt. But up until that point is a battle, and a cycle that keeps the person sedimentary.

-GETTING OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF/ HELPING OTHERS: This is one of the most overlooked things that does wonders for any person, especially someone battling with depression. (Matt 16:25)

This is also where the spiritual relationship comes into play. I said I don't believe depression is a spiritual problem, and I don't. BUT--selfishness/being self-focused IS a spiritual problem. When you invest into others and give of yourself when you don't feel like it, the rewards are large. The inwardly focused cycle of depression will only increase until you get the focus off yourself completely. This can be tough to start, but once started, it becomes easier and easier to accomplish.

These are the words we speak

Flawed communication. We use such completely different words to describe the exact same situation or event. But, these little words begin to take on a little different meaning for everyone, resulting in your casual word becoming a curse to someone else. You have completely missed. I don't know what is worse...the fact that you missed, or the fact that what you mistook me for was exactly everything that I am not. (2005)

Veritas

You are so beautiful.

Elusive.

I fear that you have left me forever-
No one remembers you.

You are at the forefront of my mind and occupy my thoughts continually. Like a wonderful dream, I want to recall the memory and think on it until I have used up all of the inertia it brings. You do not wain, yet I am afraid you will.

In the absence of you, I cannot continue.

I will surround myself with those who remember you, and think of you always. Without them, I will also forget you quickly.

The greatest fear approaches the farther away you are.

When the time we have now ends

Men: Start acting like men. If you have not established this by now, your security must come from something other than her. It must come from something other than your job, your car, or your khakis. Don't misunderstand me--Its alright to be vulnerable, honest, and to show pain. But when this is the forefront of your conversations, actions and emotions, you become inwardly focused, and a annoyance to people around you. Begging for attention, affection or respect will never get you any of them. The single best thing you can do is be secure in who you are in Christ. Make your spiritual relationship the important one. This will lead you to act in love, and in love there is no selfishness, no fear, no jealousy. There is little appealing about a Christian, save for Christ himself. Human nature propels us towards selfishness and insecurity, but Christ compels us towards Him, and towards security.

This all does not serve to say that you must be a man without feeling. That is not at all the case. Because being a man has little to do with being macho, and everything to do with embracing the security of having a first love that does not occupy this earth. If you come to realize that as the only one thing you need, then your life and actions will mirror that security.

Get outside of yourself.

True life is found in giving your life away.

Give to someone who needs your time, attention, affection or money this week. Even if those are your very needs. Many of those needs will be satisfied in you simply from your giving.

That being said, I am not sure of all the steps, nor do I have all the answers. These are simply the truths that I have seen at work in others, and in myself. These are principles that have solved problems. I can guarantee you that you are not the only person to feel this way, and you are not the only person who understands. It's been done before...It's been far worse before. Its been conquered before.

Know your blood type.

Do you guys know your blood type? If you have B or O, definitely consider donating for the burn victims in Augusta.

If there is not adequate blood supply and flow to tissue near burns in a short time following damage, repair becomes very slim. I don't know anyone affected, but I read this article and felt compelled to try and help assist them.

God Bless