Mental Health in America. Does following Jesus help?

Mark 5. ³⁰ At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him.

I have been trained in and worked in several jobs. Farmer. Grocer. Salesman. Teacher. Coach. Minister. Counselor. Chaplain. I was around many people who were mentally healthy but some who were not.  Personal reflection shows many times I chose a course that was not emotionally healthy for me or my family and co-workers.  Growth is needed there for me personally.

 Mental health issues involved in the Aurora theater shooting and the other tragedies in Colorado and now including Newtown Connecticut have been on my mind.

Don’t we need to notice the effects of our relationships with people? I’m thinking we need to watch for people around us to notice the impact they are having. If they are in our family, hopefully, we will be all moving toward Jesus lifestyle together. Sometimes that is not the case. Jesus moved in a direction for His life at times that His family didn’t understand.  He took personal responsibility for His own life and health.  He could and did move independently of His family.  His own family thought that he was “beside Himself”.

Jesus spent His time on earth trying to help people with mental health issues and other problems. Because He charted His own path in life, independent of toxic and foolish political and religious leaders, they called him “insane”.

Jesus invested in and encouraged children.

Jesus helped women to have good physical and mental health.

Jesus showed men that with God’s help negative situations can be turned around.

Jesus was observant of what was going on around Him. Are we?

Watch out for the people who discharge your energy to no avail.

There is nothing wrong with going home from a day at work tired. Work that tires us is a good thing. Hans Selye and others have shown that some stress is very good for us. Mom used to say that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” We eat and rest and get up and go to work to help people and we come home tired. We rest and arise to work another day.

Whether we are a farmers, carpenters, teachers, ministers, counselors, doctors or nurses  this is a normal day at a good work place.

But,

On the negative side:

There are people who drain energy from us and they are no better and we are worse.

There are people who drain energy from us and they are worse and we are worse.

This will take a bit of time to analyze, but if we are mentally healthy we need to move away from this kind of situation when we can.

Jesus even asked one man who asked for his help , “Do you want to get better?”

Others may be able to help them and by ineffectively trying to help we are postponing them getting the help they need.

On the positive side:

There are people who come into our world and they are better and we are drained. In my opinion this is good work. We can work effectively with these day by day, but we should still be sure to get the rest that we need. We need to be grateful for such a workplace.

There are people who come into our world and they are better and we are better. We are not drained. We are energized. When we have been with them they are better and we are better. These are win/win situations. Increase these as much as possible. This is joy and fun and might also be a part of our “work”.  Whether a regular job or a volunteer service, stay in these situations as long as possible.

Jesus didn’t stay in dangerous life threatening situations. He moved away from these. To want to live have good work is normal and healthy. When it was time for Him to die, He prayed, asked for a “plan b” and there was no “plan b”. He went to the cross because it was the plan and purpose of His life. I believe that on Easter morning the tomb was empty.

He was a successful teacher. He started with twelve and has about three billion who claim to be his students today. From my point of view, He was a mentally healthy and a successful teacher.

What do you think?

Mark 5.

Larry Wishard

Blog: LarryWishard.com

Lwishard@msn.com

Intensive Daily Bible Reading

If you have ten minutes, read Jesus from the Gospels.

(Read prayerfully seeking guidance from Jesus for your personal situation.)

If you have thirty minutes, read Jesus and the New Testament selection.

If you have forty minutes, read Jesus, the New Testament and a Psalm selection.

If you have an hour, read all the readings.

Think of this time as an intimate conversation with your Father in Heaven.

Listen for something of His love from His heart to yours today.

Date:2/1/13

Read a chapter of Jesus : Mark 4.

Read a chapter from Acts:1

Read a chapter from this New Testament Book:2 Corinthians 2

Read a paragraph from a Holy Spirit inspired older teacher to a younger teacher:1 Timothy 1.1,2

Read a verse about the beauty of the Word of God:Psalm 119.32

Read a couple of chapters from the Old Testament:Exodus 10,11

Read a chapter from Wisdom Literature:Job 32

Read a Psalm:28

Read a few verses from Proverbs:1.4-6