[Faith-Talk] serving and connection and closing thoughts about involvement
Judy Jones
sonshines59 at gmail.com
Tue Aug 13 04:13:43 UTC 2024
Hi, Misty,
It's not that we should deny feelings. We shouldn't invalidate people by doing that, and, like you say, it is unhealthy to deny or stuff feelings.
In fact, they need to be recognized.
What I think is being said is that you can't always trust feelings. When I say to someone, don't go by your feelings, I am not saying deny them. I am saying that feelings are not a stable barometer of life, but a reaction to it.
As Christians, we do not live by feelings, but live by faith, and use the Bible as our policy manual.
Judy
“Embrace each day with His mercies and blessings.”
-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-Talk <faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Misty Kienzynski via Faith-Talk
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2024 1:58 PM
To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Misty Kienzynski <mkienzyn at alumni.iu.edu>
Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] serving and connection and closing thoughts about involvement
Greetings.
I am a recent member of this list and, up ‘til now, entirely a lurker.
However, I would like to contribute a few quick things.
First, I am at least somewhat familiar with what depression can do to a person in terms of emotional state, self-esteem and motivation. Admittedly, this is not because I am clinically depressed myself, but one of my closest (sighted) friends struggles with low-grade clinical depression on a daily basis along with bouts of more serious depression. I have also read up on the subject so as to better understand him as well as others I know, both blind and sighted, who struggle with the condition.
Depression can lie to you. Depression can cause you no longer to want to live. Depression makes you feel like you don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Depression can tell you that you are not enough, that you are worthless, etc. etc. This is not something that is easily controlled or controlled at all. Sans miraculous divine intervention, it is not something that can simply be prayed out of existence. It must be understood, empathized with, worked with on its level, where it is. People who struggle with depression must be understood and worked with where they are.
Finally, I know that we are very often told that feelings mean nothing. This almost seems to be an article of faith within so many of our communities. However, I would beg to differ. Emotions do mean something. We live in a fallen world and so-called “negative emotions” are a perfectly understandable response to this fallen world. It is OK not to be OK. I will say it again - it is OK not to be OK. (Of course I mean this in reference to typical emotional balance.) I really wish we would stop denying ourselves by denying our emotions. It is neither authentic nor healthy nor helpful to so many of us who feel alone in these so-called “negative emotions”.
I have seen some very judgmental and, I would argue, un-Christian responses to this person who is struggling mightily and apparently has been struggling mightily for some time now.
I just thought some folks on this list could use a little depression primer, because it seems that this could be a lot of our OP’s challenge.
I know I plan to reach out personally to him myself instead of waiting for him to do so, given what I understand about depression and lack of motivation.
—
Misty K. — your friendly neighborhood INFJ/empath
Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem. — L. Annaeus Seneca
> On Aug 11, 2024, at 9:55 PM, Ashley Bramlett via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Andrew,
>
> Last word from me to you as I wish to respect the list and not clutter it too much!
>
> First, change subject lines please when you are not talking about the old subject.
>
> Second, we understand you are lonely and bored and have suggested ways to be involved. I said to talk to your church leaders about what you want to do and how to include you. If they do not have a particular group or activity you want, offer to start it. You can start with simple things like in the youth ministry, offer to lead some games or activities. Its as easy as bringing in card games or board games to play.
>
> You could even do something as simple as bringing in an article or described Christian Movie like Ten commandments and then lead a discussion about it!
>
> You could bring in recorded music and discuss what it means to people. Nothing will change unless you advocate and speak up.
>
> I suggest simple things that do not require many skills or planning because you are new to it and told us you do not know contracted braille.
>
>
>
> Third and finally, your rant about the end times rubs me the wrong way and frankly I do not appreciate this.
>
> This is an extreme view IMO. This is so dark and not productive to hear and I will not respond to that again and likely other listers will not either!
>
> As for your views on the government and pandemic restrictions, I agree.
>
> Its off topic though. I will just say that it hurt me immensely.
>
> I, too, was mad at the government and was losing activities. It was so bad living with my paranoid mom that I lost independence because she did not want me touching things so much out of the house for fear I’d touch the virus and bring it home.
>
> In 2020, it was a very dark time and one of the most hopeless times of my life; I could not even volunteer outside the house to keep my skills fresh. Very isolating time then.
>
> So many business were forced to close due to the government restrictions.
>
> Oh, and yes, I hate masks and also refused to wear them accept for in places where it was required like a medical office
>
> I also hate the shots. I had a reaction to a booster shot and will not get another one. It was so aweful It was an extreme rash that really hurt my arm.
>
>
>
> Again, start changing subject lines and being nicer and constructive. If you do not do this, I’m going to write Linda about this because we do not deserve to hear your rants and doom and gloom about the end times and also have no idea what you are going to write because of your failure to change subject lines.
>
> A subject line should match the content you are writing about.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
> And I’ll pray for you that you can move forward because you can do things. You were made by God for a reason and he obviously created you with some good abilities otherwise you would not have subscribed to the list and told us your questions and concerns.
>
>
>
>
>
> Blessings to all!
>
>
>
> From
>
> Ashley Bramlett
>
>
>
> From: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2024 9:22 PM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
> Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] serving and connection and thanks for advice
>
>
>
> I also think i have not come across the right people so far that have a pausative attitude but to find that better medium
>
> I don't expect every day to be a party i fully get it but something that would put me in a better place as a person.
>
>
>
> I had a real hard time with the 2020 stuff and while i maybe didn't get put in a bad place I was mad at the government and was very mad at loosing activities to do and really I refused to ware a mask I still feel to this day that it was hard on people's mental health and i feel personally this is my opinion only that this is a runner up to a society that government uses a far left approach and a very very marscial law type of socity i done so much studdy on this online and through locals and I felt not just felt i senced evil in the air and I felt that this whole pendemick was a scam and a fear or to make people be full of fear from the devil himself.
>
>
>
> When I can't do things or couldn't do things during that time period i was very mad and i did my own research on it.
>
>
>
> I personally feel that this iwa was a practice for the one world system that the bible talks about and i take thi these things very seriously when it comes to this when you are forced to take a shot in order to enter a restaurant at least canada was like that then it starts reminding me of a very marksis society or lets just reminds me of a society under marcial law i know we are not totally there yet but i am convinced from my research that we will be.
>
>
>
> but most people are not waking up to the truth.
>
>
>
> I don't think i even want any more of those shots that they forced us all to have.
>
> I know your going to say this has nothing to do to when it comes to God but to me it does. to me when a government forces you to do stuff that is not even a law and when evil is pushed on us then this is a society that is going down. Yes we need to obery e obey government but when it is not law i have no desire to obey it. and if those laws are not of god i won't do it.
>
>
>
> Canada is starting to do medically assisted su assusides and stuff next they will push it for people with disabilities.
>
>
>
> But what i am trying to say nobody is waking up at least not many are awake in my opinion. and i think this is going to become a one world and it is happening just search for agenda 2030 or agenda 2040 or great world reset I am all over that information.
>
>
>
> But what I am saying is things happening that is going to make it a one world everything.
>
>
>
> but enough about that for now but for me they are practi practicing how to heard us right in and makes make us do stuff.
>
>
>
> However I myself think i know what is best for me like I said i have done counciling off and on.
>
> it is due to lack of activity.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 11, 2024 at 6:51 PM Ashley Bramlett via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:faith-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:
>
> Linda,
>
> Thanks for your general advice; its good for all of us although first
> directed to Andrew.
>
> I think Andrew is a lonely person with some mental challenges he needs help
> with.
>
> Its hard, but I would not take it personally.
>
> Its obvious he is in an angry state and he even said on list he can lash out
> at others.
>
> I'm sorry to hear you were treated this way, especially since you are a
> volunteer running the list.
>
> No one deserves that. I cannot speak for others, but I did not get any
> emails so far.
>
>
>
> Andrew, if you read this, I hope you apologize to Linda.
>
> Next, I hope you get some counseling for what you are going through. There
> are free crisis hotlines in the USA and I am sure there is something where
> you live.
>
>
>
> Next, set some goals. You have some desires but do not know where you want
> to be serving. Think of it and go for it. I suggest having a few plans. So
> if Plan A does not work, do plan B.
>
>
>
> What Andrew just wrote is scary. I saw him write a thought of suicide when
> he said,
>
> "I want nothing more to get out of this crazy world we are in through
> rapture or for god to get me out of this mess.
>
> That is all i really think about at times i just want to escape to heaven."
>
>
>
> So what I see Andrew write is he wants to go to heaven now and feels the
> world is crazy and he has nothing to give.
>
> Our views differ on the rapture. I do not think its quite coming although
> there may be some signs of it.
>
> To me thinking about the end times is sickening as I want the world to
> improve, not come to an end. I hope we all can be positive here and give
> advice and not say and think gloomy things like Andrew.
>
>
>
> I do believe we have a world in chaos. We cannot control when we may die
> usually unless you have a terminal disease and know you cannot treat
> something. We cannot control the world and the wars going on.
>
>
>
> What we can control is our own actions. We can live and set an example by
> living like Christ did.
>
> What we can control is what we do and whether we live a healthy life.
>
>
>
> AS its Sunday, I think about Christ's word. Let his word of the Bible guide
> you and live to make the world better.
>
> Jesus said in the gospels, "go and make disciples of all nations."
>
>
>
> Blessings to all.
>
>
>
> I will write a few new subjects to get us thinking about other stuff.
>
>
>
> Take care.
>
> Ashley
>
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