If you have found yourself in a doctor’s office waiting for a test result or known the pain of losing a loved one, then you know what it is like to feel powerless. If you have ever felt like life was out of control, not knowing how things could be changed or if they could be changed, then you know what it is like to feel powerless. Powerlessness is at the heart of our life’s struggles. It is a feeling of helplessness, a feeling that there is nothing more we can do.
The gospel of Mark records the story of Jesus and his disciples out on a boat amidst raging winds and waves. As experienced fishermen, the disciples were accustomed to violent storms. They probably took immediate action and began bailing water while directing the boat as best they could. Panic-stricken and terrified, they finally woke up Jesus with their cries, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” After addressing their lack of faith, Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”
And isn’t that what we all want? We want God to calm the storms within us, within our families, within our congregations, within our community, within our world. Whether it is facing a difficult diagnosis, grieving over the loss of a loved one, or experiencing anxiety in the face of uncertainty and change, we want peace, comfort, hope.
There is an old saying attributed to Ignatius “Pray as if everything depends upon God, work as if everything depends upon you.” The disciples’ actions remind us that we have a responsibility to do our part to initiate change.
May is Mental Health Month, and this year’s theme is “Turn Awareness into Action.” In any given year, 1 in 5 people will experience the winds and waves of a mental health condition. Many who are anxious, depressed, grieving, or lonely know what it is like to feel powerless. What can be done to navigate the storms? Each of us has the power to take charge of our own mental health and well-being. Our efforts will create a ripple effect by inspiring others and contributing to a society where mental health is prioritized and supported.
In a resource provided by Mental Health America, the acronymn ACTION is used to help us to prioritize mental health. We can improve our mental health by: assessing our mental health needs; choosing a course of action; taking steps toward care; identifying additional supports; observing what is working or not; and nurturing wholeness in mind, body, spirit. This course of action will look different for each person. Taking action could look like deciding to see a therapist and making an appointment. It could be incorporating exercise by walking with a friend at lunch, starting a meditation practice or journaling. Mental health affects us all, and it is critical that we move beyond awareness to take meaningful steps for our well-being and that of our community. Could it be that we all in the same boat?
In a tweet he posted in 2020, Damian Barr made reference to this metaphor and remarked, “We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar.” His words were quoted in newspapers and podcasts around the globe.
Barr’s quote reminds me that we don’t always know what other people are up against. We all have different hardships, limitations, and resources. We may find ourselves in different boats, but we may also find ourselves in different storms. Some storms are more devastating than others and thus cause more damage.
Working together to bring about positive action for mental health amidst the storms of life will require doing our part to take care of our own well-being and to support our neighbors. It will also challenge us to put our faith and trust in the God whose peace and presence dwells with us always – even in the storms.