Today we focus on the power of
story-telling with the help of the ancient prophet Isaiah. This scripture you
hear today is spoken to God’s people when they feel most lost, most alone.
“Thus says the Lord, who makes
a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and
horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are
extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or
consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth,
do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the
desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I
give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen
people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my
praise.”
God’s
people are exiled from their homes, their familiar places of worship, and for
some, even their families. I doubt they felt like “chosen people.” This story
may have occurred ages ago, but those same conditions still exist today for us-
maybe especially for those struggling with mental illness. In any family or
community, mental illness can become a real barrier to belonging much like the
concept of exile. Whether it’s Israel’s exile long ago or our own estranged
relationships today, we all need a story of redemption to cross paths with our
unique stories of suffering. Walter Brueggemann gives us this perspective on
the text today: "From the bottom of loss and guilt arose in Israel a
series of new, imaginative poetic voices who took the loss with deep
seriousness but who shrewdly reinterpreted old faith traditions to turn exilic
Israel in hope toward the future."
There’s
irony in one particular line from this poetic prophet. “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.”
Here’s the irony: this line is spoken after a thorough accounting of Israel’s
history. A lengthy airing of dirty laundry (so to speak), a story of separation
between God and God’s people that includes harsh language, deep pain, and so
much anxiety. Our story as God’s people has never been neat and tidy, and it seems
important to this prophet to tell the truth of those “former things.” I like
this line put another way: Let’s tell the true story about what’s made you who
you are today, but don’t consider this story the final word. Because God says, “I
am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I
will make a way in the wilderness.” There’s always a way of redemption for
God’s people. Always, even when we can’t yet perceive it. Remember the past,
yes, but don’t get stuck in it. How do we do this? By telling the truth of our
stories AND the truth of God’s story. We need both truths to transform us.
If
you’ve taken a look at the mental health resources insert, you’ll notice the
book, “Blessed are the Crazy” by Rev. Sarah Griffith Lund. I want to quote you
about ½ the book today, but since I can’t do that, I’m going to ask you to read
it. Because she accomplishes exactly what she’s set out to do: breaking the silence about mental illness,
family and church by sharing her own story. I was surprised to see one of
my seminary professors Donald Capps (who taught a course called the minister and mental illness) wrote
the forward to this book, and he affirms Sarah’s work by saying, “the
fundamental key to the process of healing is to testify to the role that
mental illness has played in our lives and thereby free ourselves from our
prisons of fear, shame, and pain, and open the doors to liberated lives based
on hope, healing, and love.” I can tell you this has been my experience after
sharing the truth about my postpartum depression and anxiety.
Mental
illness is a part of so many of our lives. And when we sweep our suffering
under the rug, we disregard its significance both as a piece of who we are as
broken and beautiful people, and as a potential pathway toward renewal. Sarah
says, “Families and communities of faith need to be intentional and proactive
about changing this culture of shame, secrecy, and stigma. Testimonies only
work when there is a place to testify, a safe space to tell the truth. And
healing happens when testimonies are given and received within community.”
Sarah’s
own testimony reveals the truth that God CAN do a new thing in us, “make a way
in the wilderness.” You see, Sarah grew up with emotional scarring from a
father who suffered from untreated bi-polar. The manic episodes, psychotic
delusions, and depressive mood swings resulted in decades of abusive behavior
toward Sarah, her 4 siblings, and her mother. Sarah has a way of detailing her
upbringing with grace and grit, and I highly recommend you read her version. I
will offer a few of her final reflections: “The power of our testimonies is the
power to work through, heal, and eventually transform our suffering. Telling
the stories about my crazy father, bipolar brother, executed cousin, and my own
spiritual visions makes room for light and air, the things of God’s spirit to
enter in. Keeping these stories as secrets buried deep down in my soul gives
them power to hold me captive, isolated by my own fear, shame, and pain: fear
that I too, will be labeled crazy and, therefore, unlovable; shame that I am
not good enough to be loved; pain because this suffering makes me feel alone in
the world.”
Finding
the courage to share our stories truthfully is a hard and messy emotional
process. And sharing our stories is exactly what’s needed to break down the
stigma that has emotionally exiled so many of us and our loved ones from a
sense of real belonging. I have a challenge for you today: If your soul has
been stirred by this series on mental illness, if you’ve heard something of
your story in the stories of others, if you’ve been repressing the truth about
your own mental illness, make a change today. Pick one safe person to share
your story with. Prayerfully sit with the pain of your past, so you might
discover the courage you need to share your story with just one other person.
Telling
the truth of our stories is where we begin, and as a faith community we respond
to our individual stories by proclaiming together the truth of God’s story.
Toward the end of her book, Sarah says, “The Christian faith endures because
there is power in telling truthful stories. Christianity tells the story of a
broken but beautiful people and the God who loves them so much that God offers
God’s own self to give the people wholeness and new life.”
You are not alone in mental illness. We are worthy of love as
people who live with mental illness. We belong to God and to one another. May
this truth set us free. I’ll
leave you with Sarah’s closing line (which sounds awfully similar to something
an ancient prophet may have told Israel back in the day): “It is my testimony
that the God of love is with us, even when there’s crazy in the blood. It is my
gospel truth that blessed, not cursed, are the crazy…for we will be called
children of God.” Child of God, we need
your story to heal us all. Amen.
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