For those of you that haven't seen the news, there's a BIG fire near
us, the Goodwin Fire. We hear see fire bombers fly overhead
constantly. We see water tankers, fire trucks, and cop cars flooding
the highways. The air is heavy with smoke. Our community hasn't been
evacuated yet, but multiple communities around us have. I vigilantly
checking the internet to determine the size of the fire, the progress
made on fighting it, and the latest evacuation news. It's
nerve-wracking. Everyone is extra edgy and extra quick to snap, show
anger, or even explode.
I've gotten to thinking that this might be what it's like to live
with a chronic mental illness, to be constantly edgy, to worry about
the doom of an impending relapse, to live in the light of a monster.
Maybe this is taking things too far, being too metaphorical, but I
think it's an important idea to consider. When we see people acting a
bit “off,” are we curious about the reasons behind their
edginess? Do we have compassion and empathy for what their situation
might be, or do we just judge them? Do we show extra patience towards
individuals we know who struggle with mental illness or some other
looming life issue? Or do we hold them to high, unattainable,
unreasonable standards? Do we focus on ourselves and our fears, or
look towards others who might be struggling? Do we practice legalism,
or practice grace?
Everybody is dealing with something, be it an environmental issue
(like a natural disaster), or a mental illness, or a child who is
suffering. Practice extra patience. Show grace. Extend love and care.
You fight fire with retardant, water, and trailblazing, not with more
fire.
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