[I had a wonderful conversation with a fellow at the Vigil this
morning - Bill. Early 40's professional man, with kids. It was a
wonderful connection - we covered much ground - and he
asked if since I've Lived this new life I've suffered depression.]
Bill, :-)
You asked me if I ever suffered depression. With the greatest
gusto I said NO!
Of course I was attempting to tell you the truth, but to my
amusement, at my many limitations, I write to tell you - absolutely
I suffer depressions. I'm in one this afternoon - a significant
one.
One of my advanced degrees is in psychology. Abe Maslow
is one of the handful of psychs whose work was not toxic -
but extremely health producing. At a conference back
in the 1960's he was challenged for listing Abe Lincoln as one
of his Icons of human health with, 'Dr. Maslow, Abe Lincoln
was known to be depressive, an "illness," and you label him an
icon of human health?'
'Hmmmm,' Maslow replied. 'Yes. Lincoln was in the midst of
a war destroying thousands of his brothers and sisters both
north and south. He was deeply depressed about this. And you
deem this unhealthy???'
A am in agony over, and depressed about the lethargy in my
brothers and sisters in this country regarding the Health Care
Legislation - and how the most promising minds I see insist
on sitting on the sidelines pontificating while the greatest
leader in the history of the world, Pres. Obama, stays on the
field of battle fighting for us, Alone. You know the movie,
"High Noon," with Gary Cooper?
The question my brain (oh so limited) was hearing from you
when you said "depression," I was responding to Joy - was
there ever an instant when I didn't experience Joy. No IS
the correct answer to that - including now.
In his studies of Self Actualized people, among the traits
he found among all was that they, 1. Were all completely
and totally dedicated to the well-being of humanity, and
2. Practically all would relate that - 'Life is so wonderful
I almost can't stand it - it is just too much - excruciating.'
That is how it is. The pain of the world is so acute in me
that at times it does lead to depression. NEVER do I
regret either the pain or the depression. I'd be "Dead" if
I lacked either. A STONE would feel the pain so rampant
in the world today. Yes?
But in my own experience and in my ongoing
studies in many fields - the Agony and the Ecstasy are NEVER
separate; NEVER. The Agony of those needlessly
suffering is the FUEL, the ENGINE for LOVE and the
fruit of Living out of our Love is JOY - Ecstasy.
It is not rare that I am depressed. It is NEVER that I do
not Live Joy. It is Heaven, and Hell. :-)
Your brother,
Start
War is a Racket by Smedley Butler
