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on the use of a pulpit
Jan. 17th, 2011 09:18 am With one thing and another: media discussions, pastoral care situations, thoughtful fandom reflections, conversations with a colleague - I took my lectionary readings in hand this week and looked at them through the lens of mental illness.
( notes from yesterday's sermon )
My congregations are wonderful. I was scared to speak about living with mental illness, but not worried, if that makes sense. I trust them.
I got a lot of hugs at the door. Some congregation members started to cry as I held them. Others spoke of friends, or sisters, or just leaned in and said "I know, too". I was completely wound and exhausted by the time I was done. I went into my calm and composed place during worship, but even so, I was shaking throughout the morning. I came home and watched a couple of movies on netfix, had a nap, still felt hit by a truck when I woke up.
Today is a self care day, I think. And tomorrow I should try and make a pastoral care follow up list. As yesterday morning unfolded, I knew I'd made the right decision to speak up, I could hear the words in the hymns affirm the message I was trying to share.
And, mental illness being what it is... I can report with bitter amusement that as I drove home from church, I struggled with my internal critic berating me for not having done a "better" job that morning.
( notes from yesterday's sermon )
My congregations are wonderful. I was scared to speak about living with mental illness, but not worried, if that makes sense. I trust them.
I got a lot of hugs at the door. Some congregation members started to cry as I held them. Others spoke of friends, or sisters, or just leaned in and said "I know, too". I was completely wound and exhausted by the time I was done. I went into my calm and composed place during worship, but even so, I was shaking throughout the morning. I came home and watched a couple of movies on netfix, had a nap, still felt hit by a truck when I woke up.
Today is a self care day, I think. And tomorrow I should try and make a pastoral care follow up list. As yesterday morning unfolded, I knew I'd made the right decision to speak up, I could hear the words in the hymns affirm the message I was trying to share.
And, mental illness being what it is... I can report with bitter amusement that as I drove home from church, I struggled with my internal critic berating me for not having done a "better" job that morning.
