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A Word From Our Associate . . .
Mental Illness is Partly the Heart's Illness
The other day, someone reminded me of one of my favorite poems. It is dry humor at its best, and was first told by a professor I had at the seminary, Fr. Yetzer (now dead, may he rest in peace), who was as dry as you could get.
"The other night upon a stair,
I saw a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today,
I wish to he(double toothpicks) he'd go away."
It always makes me chuckle, and sometimes we can do that when we think of how crazy the world, and people can get. For example, to actually see and imagine things which don't exist. An yet, if you've ever suffered a mental illness, or had a family member or friend who has, you tend to joke far less about it, because it has become so real, and because people can suffer tremendously as a result.
Last week I was called to the hospital several times, to visit with patients who were suffering from a mental illness. They told me that every psyche ward in the Twin Cities was filled to overflowing, there was no more room left. One said, "This must have something to do with the full moon." Who knows, maybe sunspots or other factors in the universe play a part? I don't know much about that, but I believe that if we look deep enough into the human heart, and the plight of humanity, we can find other key sources.
More and more doctors today, especially psychiatrists and even counselors, are turning to drugs as the answer to mental illnesses. For example, if one is depressed, they should immediately get on Prozac or Zoloft. I would like to challenge this trend. It may be the case that certain individuals suffer as the result of mere biological deficiencies, or imbalances, yes. It may also be the case that one seeking to discover other, emotional or psychological reasons for an illness, may still benefit from drugs in the process, yes. However, it is also possible that drugs will simply provide a kind of Band-aid, over what is a much deeper injury.
Jesus said, "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:2). It is God's intention that we all come to a certain wholeness, and that includes good healthy thoughts patterns. I believe that underneath humanity's plight is our greatest longing unfulfilled: to love and be loved (first and foremost by God). Today's culture offers a cycle of abuse, where one man hurt, cuts off the wound as a defense mechanism, only to victimize another through lack of love, sensitivity and pride of selfishness. Jesus enters into this maelstrom of vice, to bring mercy and healing: to the sinner as well as victim. The heart, which comes to experience God's love, through prayer, Scripture, and love of family and neighbor, will learn the "truth"& .which "sets us free" (John 8:32). Counselors, doctors, nurses, and drugs are all instruments for God's healing hand: the reason why these services have long
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