S1-Day: 31 God in Dirty Places: Whose Side Are You Today?

“How depressed can this world make me? How stronger would it push me to become? How often does this happen to me? How can anyone answer me?”[1]

Depression has been the talk off late. Depression is a state of the self which is overburdened by loads of pressure, pain, agony, anxiety and so much more, that is often imposed either by the self or by others around. Many reasons lead to depression. But they all, never look the same. Yes, they never look the same. Depression is often misunderstood to be visible only with sadness, teary-eyes, gloomy face, unwell bodies, unkept hair and so on. But we often ignore the fact that depression has other faces like, loud laughter, broad smiles, fast-talker, humorous entertainer etc.

“This world is a greedy place, where humans think they find solace. It isn’t just another space, but it disguises itself with ‘heavenly grace’. This world means a lot to me, but for the world, I am just another flee, tinier than the tiniest bee.”

Social media went berserk with the news of an actor in India who suffered death by suicide. It sprung up arguments on nepotism in the industry, celeb-bullying and so much more. Yes, his life mattered. But what struck me hard was these people who speak so much for him, who run protests on his behalf were absolutely numb at the deaths of the many farmers, Dalits, queer people, women and even school-going children who were systemically killed (death by suicide). Thus, proving “elite life matters”. Who cares about those who are strangled by ‘us’? Any life that is seen less in the system is regarded as a piece of shit or even less.

“The fear of being alone always showed death so near. A depressed soul would be an alien here, with long faces that only gets nastier. Death is indeed easier, than this imposed ‘fear’.”

There are many individuals in the world waging a constant war against depression. Updating statuses/Inviting them to open-up to you, on social-media will never help. Those depressed will never reach you anyway. Those who are depressed are stuck in their own dirty-teary spaces. They confine themselves within. The reason is you! Yes, you hear me right. Had you been open/ non-judgmental with people who came to you before, you would have been their first choice to approach. Everyone goes through depression at some point in their lives. At that time, they know, if they speak to you, they are safe. They will confide with you and express/pour-out their heart to you.

“Depression has struck humanity, stripping off the masks of disguised-sanctity, showing human beings’ insanity, that pulls down the other, to stupidity.”

The questions to ask yourself today are, have I asked or said statements, mentioned below, to those who have shared something they were pained with, “talk to God, everything will be taken care-of”, or “maybe what you did was wrong, you should not have done it” or “God will punish you for what you have done”, “ask God for forgiveness and repent, God will forgive you” and so on? If your answer was a ‘yes’, go to that person and confess that you have sinned by speaking this way when all they wanted was for you to listen and feel the warmth of your embrace.

“There is no end for the world’s cruelty. There is no end to each one’s sweet-poisoned mentality. How then can there be, in this world, serenity, when all of humanity strives to kill each other’s dignity?”

God is with everyone, especially those who are depressed. But because God does not appear in a physical form, God sends people like you, me, us, the church, to be ‘present’. Instead of reflecting God, the ‘comforter’, we reflect God the ‘judge’. But the former is the need of the hour. Depression is dirty. It is a murderer. But it is in our hands if we want to side God the comforter or depression the murderer. Whose side are you today?

Prayer

God of those who are depressed, we confess that we have sinned against you and our friend. You called us to be Christ-like, but we differed and let down those who shared/tried to share their stories with us, forgive us we pray. Give us the courage to listen and to embrace those who are depressed. And lead us into your love, to remain channels of comfort and consolation. Amen.

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Author: Vinod Shemron

About the Author

 Reference

[1] Lines from a poem I wrote in 2014, ‘Loneliness’, is woven into the reflection.