NOT A CASSEROLE ILLNESS

contributed by Leroy K. Pickett

member of First United Methodist Church,

Downers Grove, IL

Typically when people in a caring church hear that a member is hospitalized for a heart condition, cancer surgery or a broken leg, a beautifully cooked casserole is brought to the home of the family.  However, this is seldom the case when the member is hospitalized due to an episode associated with depression, bipolar disease or schizophrenia.  Hence, people who work with those in churches, who have a mental illness, consider it, “A NO CASSEROLE ILLNESS.”  Why is this hurtful stigma associated with mental illnesses? 

First of all, there may be some real issues for the person who is sick.  It seems our society would rather have a worker with untreated mental illness than one who has received treatment.  This makes absolutely no sense.  In fact, a worker may lose his/her job when it is learned that treatment has been received for one, simple mental illness episode.  Workers who receive appropriate mental health treatment perform their tasks far more effectively than those who remain untreated. 

A second and frequently more critical reason for lack of response by people at church, is that family members often hide mental illness from others because of fear of rejection, even by close friends in the church.  Oftentimes the fears experienced by the family are real reactions to previously experienced awkward silences when attempting to discuss concerns associated with mental illness.

For loving support of those experiencing the pains associated with mental illness, attitudes about mental illness must change and the church should lead the way rather than remaining decades behind.  Ian Aitken, President and Chief Executive Officer of the well-known Menninger Clinic located in Houston, Texas, wrote the following statement.  “It takes great courage to be honest about mental illness when it strikes, as it will for one in four Americans.  We cannot afford to complicate the recovery by remaining silent and sustaining the stigma that persists throughout society.  We must encourage all members of our national community to address the issue of mental illness openly and honestly and help those afflicted to access treatment as early as possible.  Early treatment for cuts to our skin prevents infection.  Like the ailments of the body, the brain responds to early treatment.”   

ME -- A BULLY?

 

contributed by:

Dr. E. Maurlea Babb

family therapist

member of First United Methodist Church,

Glen Ellyn, Illinois

“Don’t you know how you should behave – what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m sure that you see the value of doing it my way.”

“You’re not good enough to belong to our organization.”

"My mommy says that I can’t play with you.”

“Until you cooperate with the program, you will not go far in this company.”

“You are a nobody and no one wants to associate with you.” 

And so the bullying begins and continues.

How many times have you and I witnessed or been a part of this subtle (or not so subtle) behavior of bullying? Too often we only recognize the more blatant forms which are reported as someone commits suicide or plans revenge in other ways.  Our landscape is dotted with acts of bullying which are often ignored as we want and try to be ‘somebody’ who is accepted and valued.

In response to the bullying ‘plague’, we have formed committees to plan and execute controls and consequences. And the bullying goes on.

Perhaps we need to look more deeply at the possible roots of this interaction which occurs as individuals and groups strive to gain recognition, power, control and self worth with such behaviors.

Christ came to us to address compassion, unconditional love and acceptance of each of us as diverse persons.  What would be the cost if we were to follow that model, starting in our homes?  Could we develop a society of acceptance and affirmation?  How would we respond as a family, community which operates under a model of cooperation?  Can we only feel worthwhile if we are ‘on top’ – keeping others ‘down’ through the act of bullying – subtle or blatant?

God, I believe, has an agenda for us to work, play, dialogue together with a respect for our individuality, uniqueness and right to different points of view.  That uniqueness was not created to do harm, but to enhance us in our relationships with one another as a member of God’s family. 

Pray that we work together to understand, make changes and value each other, beginning  at the level of the family in order that those accepting, encouraging behaviors extend into our own society and beyond. 

We can and must eliminate bullying and it needs to begin with ME.