DEPRESSION…THE ALIEN WITHIN (3rd in series)

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I was a young seminary student on my way back to school from spending the weekend with my parents and seeing a car pulled awkwardly to the side of the road.

I had stopped to see if I could help.

I found out that the man had just had a heart attack and died behind the wheel.

It was over 50 years ago, but I still remember that as I drove the distraught widow to her home later that afternoon, I listened over and over again to her litany of regret.

Clasping and unclasping her hands she wept, “What if we just hadn’t gone out for a drive…” “What if…” she repeated, as if by saying it enough times it would make things better. Of course, it didn’t. It all only made things worse.

And she was playing the WHAT IF game? And many do…and it seems to come as second nature…and it the worst thing to do…unless you began to play a positive WHAT IF game…such as in this case…WHAT IF I HAD NEVER MET HIM OR HER…look at all the precious moments I would have lost…and yes…pain at such moments is the price we pay for the gift of love given many years before and during all those years together.

Time. It does slowly heal. Turns wounds into scars. Improves perspective. But, yes, sometimes we still need to be able to take Prozac, or Effexor or Paxil without a sense of guilt.

And why not?

Do not most people take insulin for diabetes, or aspirin for a headache, or anesthesia for an operation?

Certainly God can cure cancer, but does that mean one should not take chemotherapy? Sometimes a minister or psychiatrist needs to continue to be seen.

And again. why not? Don’t most people continue to see a doctor if physical hurts persist? Should emotions receive less concern and care?

And oh what foolishness we proclaim if we turn to someone who is down and say, “Stiff upper lip ole boy or ole gal. A stiff upper lip you know,” … not only stupid, it is thoughtless.

To the depressed person, part of that depression is a racing, tumbling time of broken-hearted thoughts bouncing off the soul, and trying to slow it all down immediately is like trying to stop a speeding car with tissue paper.

Therefore, sometimes the best thing do, if depression descends on you, is for a little while to try to wipe clean the slate of your worried mind.

To give such thoughts some muted silence.

Seek an emotional whiteout. Just let the soft breeze of nothingness blow for a while.

And then, read John 14:27 and hear Jesus saying, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

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the SERIES…A HEAVENLY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM quoted from Sunday Jan 2 2011
(on this Wyrck’s Writing blog)

It began Sunday Dec 26, 2010

“I have always been intrigued by a question God put to Adam, “Where are you?” Why did He ask that? What is the meaning behind this? It wasn’t a geographical question, for certainly God knew the answer to that one.

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To view an abundance of unusual stories and comments by Neil Wyrick go to Neil’s other blog ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS

Click on the following URL http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

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BELOW IS A QUOTE FROM the SERIES on this Wyrick’s Writings site entitled ANGER IS A KILLER. It began Thursday January 6, 2010.

“Do you enjoy visiting friends? More than likely you’re thinking, Preacher, of course, I do.
Now let me ask the other side of the coin - Do you enjoy visiting enemies? No?

Well, I know you must enjoy visiting at least one enemy because, like myself, you probably visit this one quite often. Unfortunately, we all …visit this enemy…whose name is anger.

Some visit anger seldom . Some on a regular basis. And during those visits, some spew and others stew.”

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TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING
http://www.speakerneil.com/

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V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book is THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is now available on amazon.com at some rather good discount prices (Also, available for your Kindle)

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