The Bishops Pastoral Letter for August 2017
This is the month that has a holiday feel about it. Not necessarily because August brings the warmest temperatures of the year, but certainly because our schools and colleges are on their longest break and for many usual routines go out the window!
Such is the experience in many of our churches where Vicars have been known to put on their shorts and join in getting to know you games on the Summer Playscheme, where yet again volunteers from our congregations reach out into their community and show the love of Jesus Christ through hospitality and welcome to these young people and their parents. Truly, they are following Christ in the footsteps of St Chad who I suspect really enjoyed making the most of the long summer days as he engaged with people on his travels.
Even if you are unable to get away this summer, I do hope that you will find an opportunity to relax and de-stress as a way of avoiding dis-stress later in the year as the days grow shorter and winter comes once more.
Sadly, all evidence points to a large increase in those suffering with depression and other forms of mental illness especially among the young. I was surprised to read that New Zealand a country which in my mind is always associated with beautiful landscapes and a more gentle pace of life than here in the UK has the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world. Commentators highlight the stigma that is attached to depression which instead of being recognised as an illness is regarded as weakness. Those who suffer tend to be told to pull themselves together (whatever that means) and to grin and bear it. The pressure is on boys particularly to man up and emulate the big tough guy image of the rugby playing All Blacks.
I would like to think that we are more accepting of mental illness in our country but sadly all the indications are that here mental and physical illness are still treated very differently.
I recently heard a young man describe how he had needed time off when he broke his leg playing football his work mates visited and had great fun signing his plaster cast. When eventually he returned to work there was a lot of back slapping, joking and a real sense that they were pleased to see him back. More recently he has had to face difficulties in his life that have resulted in bouts of depression and he again had to take time off work. No one contacted him and when eventually he returned his mates seemed embarrassed and did their best to avoid him. They seemed to have a false idea that people generally and particularly young men should simply work things through themselves and get over it.
Thanks to the amazing work of David Primrose and our recognition of the Gospel imperative to Transform Communities, the Diocese of Lichfield is gaining a positive reputation in the wider Church for pioneering ministry in areas of social concern. I would encourage us all to think seriously about what we as a Church can offer to break down the barriers surrounding mental illness and enable it to be regarded in the same way that we think about physical illness. We need to provide safe spaces for people of all ages, but particularly the young, to be able to share their feelings, their fears and their concerns as well as hopes and joys.
Our Lord has given us a pattern to follow for he engaged with all people and showed them the respect that they deserved as fellow human beings made in the image of God and loved by God. He did not try to provide quick or superficial answers, nor did he try to avoid their issues. What Jesus said was: Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)
However you spend your August I pray that we will find the refreshment and rest that Jesus offers to us and to all people.
+Geoff
August 2017