Based on the book – Finding Jesus in the Storm (The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges) by John Swinton.
John Swinton is professor of practical theology and pastoral care at the University of Aberdeen and founding director of Aberdeen’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability. He worked as a nurse for sixteen years within the fields of mental health and learning disabilities and later also as a community mental health Chaplin.
“Finding Jesus in the Storm” is a call for the Church to be an epicentre of compassion for those experiencing depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and related difficulties.
In this thought provoking and challenging book John lays before the reader the concept of “Thin Descriptions”. By this he means just seeing people in terms of their diagnosis. People cease to be perceived as persons in their own right and are sadly often described as schizophrenics, depressives, neurotics or psychotics.
Jesus, as ever, should be our role model. It is of profound significance that on meeting the man, who scripture has named “Legion”, Jesus simply asks first and foremost what is your name? To seek to see the “whole person” is a costly business but surely this is what is required of us followers of Jesus.
I found the book very challenging in the respect of asking myself, where else in life do I apply “a thin description” rather than seeking to uncover a border perspective? John Swinton encourages us to accept the reality and ramifications of suffering, while also affirming that there is more to humanity than cells and synapses. People are people; however, they experience life.
During the pandemic, people have experienced life in a whole host of different ways, many of them positive. However, for those individuals who suffer from complex needs, of whatever description, not being able to meet physically, has had an even deeper impact. When you are very depressed you are not going to access a computer or go online.
Phone calls, prayers over the phone and doorstep visiting (socially distanced and wearing a mask) are some of the ways we can include some of our most vulnerable people. There has been much talk of late in the media of the mental health need that will become apparent Post Pandemic. I would argue that that need is already here.
In our prayers we must hold before God, those whose struggles are magnified greatly by lack of physical human contact.