This is a really personal Soul School and maybe the hardest one I’ve done yet.<\/em><\/p>\n SCROLL DOWN TO FIND THE AUDIO PLAYER<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Here’s why I did it…<\/em> Some might\u00a0accuse me of having too little faith. But, if you have\u00a0all the answers, you\u00a0don’t\u00a0need faith at all. Certainty is\u00a0faith-killing. I rely\u00a0on faith<\/u>,\u00a0because\u00a0I’m on a journey into the unknown. A\u00a0journey\u00a0of discovery. And, I need to be brave, especially now. Maybe you do too.<\/em><\/p>\n Unforeseen\u00a0suffering or brain chemistry (or both) slings some of us\u00a0onto another path and the easy answers and promises fall short\u00a0sometimes. So, if that’s been your<\/strong> situation, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Don’t feel ashamed. Let’s do this together.<\/p>\n [ictt-tweet-inline]Feeling alone<\/strong> is what gets us into the worst sort of trouble. It can bring us to both a figurative and literal dead end.[\/ictt-tweet-inline]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n (To tweet that quote, click the blue bird.)<\/span><\/p>\n Today, on Soul School, I expose the\u00a0shame and silence about dark moods and<\/span> the rather\u00a0common thoughts\u00a0of suicide and despair some of us face. I want you to hear my story so that you can share your story and together we will all be better for it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Please, seek the help you need, despite what those around you know or don’t know about your feelings and situation; and despite what they think you should do about it.<\/p>\n Speak to someone<\/span><\/strong>: someone you know is wise, if you have a loving family member seek that one out, a trusted friend, a supportive spiritual guide from your religious tradition, or someone trained to help. There are so many who are willing and able to help you.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022Just being open about it takes the teeth out of it and gets you out of the shadows and to where you can be seen, heard, and loved.<\/em><\/p>\n Your cries for help will not go unnoticed if you reach out until<\/span> you find\u00a0connection. Your story isn’t over yet.<\/p>\n \u2022 If you have\u00a0pervasive<\/span>\u00a0(rather than passing) thoughts of suicide or a detailed plan to end your life, I ask you to seek professional medical attention\u00a0immediately<\/span>. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u2022 Please stay. Tell me your story-let’s both stay.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n AUDIO PLAYER:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIt’s easier sometimes to\u00a0act like very dark thoughts happen to other<\/strong><\/em> people. Growing up, Jesus and the hope of heaven was suppose to cure me\u00a0of any hopelessness, fear, despair, and existential angst. It was seldom that simple. My life often felt sad, tumultuous, and complicated. There seem to be\u00a0people that\u00a0experience\u00a0Jesus (or the idea of Jesus) like a “happy pill”…sometimes this was true for me. But, often, it wasn’t. I felt like the Bible character Job, a lot.<\/p>\nThe U.S. national hotline to speak to someone, right now<\/strong>, is 1-800-273-TALK. (1-800-273-8255<\/span><\/strong>) or go to SUICIDE.ORG<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nBecause today’s\u00a0information could save lives, please pass it along as you are able.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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