Z is for Zenith
I.
I cut you from the strongest cloth. I made you sturdy and indestructible, but I couldn’t make you impenetrable.
You.
You walked through this earth and got scratched and torn, but never destroyed.
Read MoreY is for You
You.
You cut me out of paper, such a flimsy material. Maybe that was your first mistake.
I.
I walked through this earth and got crumpled, torn, shredded. And where were you
Read MoreLetting go of religion, part three: what I'm taking with me
Tomorrow will be the start of another year; another leg of my journey through the wilderness. But, I'm not afraid. Instead, I'm grateful that I'm still here to experience what lies ahead. Since I have already said enough about what I have left behind, I wanted to share a list of things that I'm taking with me on my journey this year. These are the things that will keep me moving forward as I travel into the unknown.
Letting go of religion, part two: the church
It's Christmas Eve day today: the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. My family has a tradition of observing this holiday by going to a beautiful candlelit service at church and singing hymns of rejoicing. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. But I don't feel joy. I don't feel like celebrating much. And I don't go to those candlelit church services anymore, because I know that all I will feel is pain, sadness, and anxiety.
Read MoreLetting go of religion, part one: bad theology
For most of my life, religion (specifically Christianity) has been a part of who I am. I was baptized as an infant; grew up going to church every weekend; went to a Christian university for undergrad; and was a youth ministry leader for many years. You may be wondering what this has to do with my mental health, and I suppose the answer is that my faith and mental health have always had a complicated relationship with each other.
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