(Reposted from an old site. Written April 2010)
Several churches ago, I used to write short plays that would be performed at the beginning of the evening service, from which the pastor would base his sermon on. When I wrote them, I had to write of a ‘problem’ but not give the solution. It was up to the pastor to veer us towards the answer.
What I have written below is much the same. Only, YOU have to find the solution.
I have written this in a light-hearted frame of mind, but it is a very serious condition for many. The issue being "disheartenment".
Disheartenment can lead to depression. It causes us to give up... to lose hope. Without hope, it’s very difficult for a soul to rise each day, and soon death seems to be the only comfort offered.
It's all well and good to say "Get over it" to a strong heart, but to one that's been wounded and winded so many times that it simply cannot retain hope, the statement "Get over it" is more like a dead weight than anything. And I am hoping and praying YOU will have a word that will help a weary heart rise again.
Together, I hope and pray we can find, and share, revelation, wisdom, and encouragement for those who presently possess no hope, or who are rapidly losing it.
If life is a battle - which it certainly feels like at time - we warriors of life need to reach out and help our fellow 'soldiers' from time to time, ensuring no one gets left behind...
Hey, thanks for being here. Thank you for coming on the journey. And thank you for offering your wisdom and/or personal stories to help ‘hearten’ those who need it.
I thank God for YOU.
Love
Donna
~ What a Journey ~
Come for a walk with me... You may want to bring a basket, or a bag of some sort with you, as we will be collecting a few items along the way.
I don’t know how long this journey will take, nor do I know where it will lead us to, but I know it’s one I definitely need to take, and perhaps you do, too.
Of course, you can pull out of it any time you desire. If your mind is anywhere near as abstract as mine, you may find yourself wandering off quite a lot. And that’s all well and good, because God knows you have your own journey to travel, but I do hope that we will reconnect at some stage and swap notes on what we found along the way.
Ok... Ready...? Here goes...
First, I need to mark off my check list. I don’t want to find myself several miles into the journey and realise I have to turn back because I left something behind.
~ CHECKLIST ~
~ Item ~ ~ Define item’s purpose ~
· Basket To collect interesting artefacts along the way.
· Pen To use with paper (duh!)
· Paper To record any thoughts, questions or revelations I may have along the way, that I wish to ponder or share with someone else later.
· Purpose To find what causes me to lose heart so often.
· Hope To be rid of that which causes me to lost heart so often.
· Faith In God... yeah...
· Courage For the moment... But if we don’t start soon, I may drop it!!! I’m starting to get a little anxious...
· Confidence Oh, for goodness sake! Can we just get on with it!
· Patience Oh, no you didn’t!!!!
· ..............
Stupid checklist!
· Checklist in bin!
Right... Enough with the preparations... Let’s get on with it. There’s a climax to be had and I want it NOW!
Here goes...
We’re outside. The road is set before us. It’s a wide, straight road, and doesn’t look too difficult at all! Sweet! My kind of road. And with the heavens so clear and blue, and with the sun high in the sky, pouring out its effervescence upon all the earth, the road is marked with peace, making it even more inviting. Oh, and that breeze is heavenly!
Ok, I’m over the whole boring preparation thing, and I just want to go, but, have you seen my new walking outfit...? Nice, huh. I really like this colour on me. And I love the way the cut of the pants and shirt hide my ‘excess baggage’... [Well, let’s pretend they do...]
Oh, you have new clothes and shoes, too! Doesn’t it feel great to have new things sometimes? What with putting the kids through private school, having one income, and a mortgage that demands attention more times than I care to give it ~ among other things life demands compensation for ~ I rarely buy new clothes... or new anything for that matter. [Please don’t look at the furniture. ] So having this new outfit really makes me feel confident in stepping onto this new road... Funny how our physical appearance can affect our mood, ay.
What’s that? Our mood can affect our appearance...? Yes, I guess so... Mmm, actually, gee... now you mention it, I see how right you are. You just reminded me that when I was getting dressed this morning I foolishly did so before the mirror, and I realised I’m still physically paying for the depression I experienced... [Stupid comfort food! Lot of good that did me!]
*mournful sigh*
You wouldn’t happen to have a chocolate on you, would you...? No...? [Stupid checklist! Didn’t have that written on it! ]
Hmm...? What’s that? What dark cloud...?
Oh, the one above me! Where did that come from...? It looks heavy. I hope it doesn’t rain. Not on my new clothes. Well, the clothes may recover from it, but I don’t know how well these shoes will handle the water.
You brought an umbrella? Clever thinking... Uh - what...?! It was on your checklist?! [Stupid checklist!] Well, I don’t need an umbrella. I like to dance in the rain. Oh, look! It’s starting to rain... Ooh, yes, I love those little droplets. Lovely...
No, I don’t want to share your umbrella. Thanks for the offer, though. [Damn, that rain’s cold... Don’t focus on the cold. Focus on how soft it feels against my skin... Ah, lovely... Oh, great! This is going to ruin my watch, isn’t it! I need that umbrella. No! I won’t ask to share it. They’ll think I’m stupid. Oh, my make-up is running, isn’t it...! I can feel it oozing down my face. No worries. I’ll just close my eyes, aim my face for the heavens, and smile. They’ll never know how uncomfortable I’m feeling!]
Walk...? Uh, you go on ahead... I just want to enjoy this rain for a few moments longer... Yes, I’m sure. I’ll catch up with you soon... Uh, hey, where did you get that drink from? Your checklist! [Stupid checklist!] Coffee...? You have coffee...? [Do I want some! Man, what do you think! Look at my eye twitchin'...!] No, I’m fine. I brought water... [from the rain cloud. Stupid checklist!]
Ok, you go ahead. I’ll see you soon. Enjoy.
As I watch you walk away, I realise just how fine you do look in your new clothes. I wish I looked that good... You seem so peaceful, despite the rain falling heavily upon the umbrella. It doesn’t seem to bother you that you’re now trudging through mud. Good to see you had the good sense to take your shoes off and put them in your backpack.
I wish I looked half as good as you... Wish I had half as much sense as you... Wish I had checked all of my checklist before venturing out... Wish I were home in bed, or watching tele’ with a block of chocolate and a barrel of coffee...
Look at this weather. It’s so...disheartening. I so looked forward to walking in the sunshine...but now the day is ruined. I look terrible. I feel terrible. I feel like such a fool, is what I feel like...
Maybe I can try again tomorrow...
Gee, I can’t even remember why I wanted to walk that road in the first place... It doesn’t matter. Not anymore. My shoes are stained with mud, now... and so dang wet. They’ll take days to dry out... My new clothes cling to me now, highlighting every bump and dint. Wow... is that my reflection in that puddle...? From this angle I look so huge! I hope no one sees me... If they do, they’ll laugh. Not that I can blame them. Yuck... what a sight! I am so ashamed... Look what I’ve allowed myself to become. I gave up... I gave up on me. I feel like giving up now. I might as well give up, because I know nothing will change on that path. I know everything will return to normal. And I know these clothes will soon grow old and... Oh, forget it... I don’t know why I bother...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok...now I need to ask: What did you collect in your basket as you travelled this journey with 'me'?
Ok, so "I" didn’t walk on the road set before me, but I did take a journey, and you did come with me. I took a journey in my mind. I walked a path that led me to feeling disheartened... As you watched me do this, did you take any notes, or find anything along the way that would help me, you, or someone else veer away from that ‘disheartening’ path next time I/we/they dared to head off towards “Destiny”...?
The above scenario can be altered by you. You can place yourself, or the 'me' in this story in a different setting, and alter the actions and reactions of the main character to suit a theme you're more familiar with, but, in the end, how does one stop their mind from leading them on a path that leads to disheartenment...?
I'll be back later... Have fun, but be gentle. Some are closer to the point of suicide than they dare admit...
XOXOX