tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post7451357444201121847..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: God With Us -- When We Are Most AlonePastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-69871110459435587952011-05-04T09:24:41.635-05:002011-05-04T09:24:41.635-05:00Thank you - I appreciate that point of view - I ha...Thank you - I appreciate that point of view - I hadn't thought of that.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503743050696171950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-26406662937919034012011-05-04T06:34:18.606-05:002011-05-04T06:34:18.606-05:00Sue, there are wicked who are mentally ill and the...Sue, there are wicked who are mentally ill and there are wicked who are not. They do not go together. It has been my experience that those afflicted with mental illness are generally harmful only to themselves. I do not say this to diminish your experience but to point out that this man's behavior is found in those who do not carry a diagnosis. Be careful about using this experience to shape your estimation of all people with mental illness...Pastor Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-47328064847765358622011-05-03T15:32:06.813-05:002011-05-03T15:32:06.813-05:00Great post and link. There is a man who is schizop...Great post and link. There is a man who is schizophrenic who comes to my church - nice, gentle man - about 59 years old, has lived in a group home since he was about 31. Life must be such a struggle for him, but there he is, every Sunday. He's made friends with people who have reached out to him and finally feels comfortable talking to folks.<br /><br />Another member of my church has a son who is bipolar. (He's about 63.) I admit that I am afraid of him so definitely keep him at arm's length. He was coming into my office for quite a while about a year or so ago (fortunately he didn't remember I worked there, or at least never asked for me). Management came close to banning him from the building because of his behavior. Our Thrivent agent got a restraining order to prevent him from coming to her office. He broke into his ex-wife's house and raped her. He was off his meds and quite scary for a long time. He's back on the meds now and much calmer, but still comes off in a way that's hard to describe that makes me want to keep my distance.<br /> It's so hard to reach out to people like that - your sole thought is getting away and protecting yourself. I guess what I'm saying is some mentally ill people are dangerous, and we probably shouldn't get too close for our own protection. It's so sad, though. I know this guy tries to reach out to God.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503743050696171950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-79917748694077032592011-05-03T09:07:13.599-05:002011-05-03T09:07:13.599-05:00Thank you for this post. When I was in grade scho...Thank you for this post. When I was in grade school, I struggled with very deep depression caused by some medicine I took (for another mental illness, ironically). Mental illness runs in my family. Also, I help out at my church's ministry at a nursing home where most of the people are mentally disabled. The biggest thing I've learned through all of that is that no one is outside of God's love.Jacob Andrewshttp://chiasticsarcast.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.com