Mind Matters

One of our son’s passions in life is climbing and, so, I found myself accompanying him recently to a big competition in Leeds. It pitted the best climbers from various regions of the UK and Ireland over two days, and the standards were high.

It’s not an easy thing as a parent to watch, because you see people doing their best and, at times, they haven’t done themselves justice. They have allowed nerves to affect them and, at times, things don’t go as well as you hope they will. Sometimes, you see people in tears, distraught about a simple mistake, and the big key is to get your head in the right space to move on and do your best for the next climb.

I’m currently reading the absorbing autobiography of Johnny Sexton, the former Irish and British and Irish Lions rugby player. It’s called ‘Obsessed’ and, by his own admission, he’s not the easiest man to be around at times. As an elite sportsman, he had the very highest of standards both for himself and his teammates. He acknowledges numerous times in his career where he came to blows with teammates on the training pitch. He got in trouble with referees and coaches and he struggled at various times with the responsibilities placed upon him as the team kicker. He describes hours of practice and getting his routines right and shutting out the crowds and allowing for the wind and all the different things you need to factor in when you have that responsibility. There are moments of great glory where you are the hero as you nail an important kick, and there are kicks he missed, even as a schoolboy, that haunt him to the present day.

Most high achievers in sport have an element of the obsessive about them, whether it is their commitment to training, diet and constantly striving for perfection, or constantly comparing themselves to others. A lot of those we consider to be the best of the best have those internal struggles with their form and their confidence and their mental health. I think of snooker players, like the late Alex Higgins, or Ronnie O’Sullivan. I think of the disintegration of wonderful golfers, like McIlroy, in the final round of a major on a few occasions, where the margins are so fine and the pressure is so intense. That’s what makes these things so hard to win.

In the church, we are conscious of how personal and immense the struggles with our mental health can be. It’s hard to talk to others about our struggles with anxiety and depression, or the pressures we feel crowding in around us at times because of life’s circumstances.

We received some grant funding from an initiative called, ‘Mind Matters’ and it has enabled us to fund a number of events this year around mental health. We are trying to offer opportunities for people to get together and have a safe space to talk about these difficult things.

With the help of this grant last year we established a crafting group called Cregagh Crafters. Under the leadership of Janet Johnston and Julie Cunningham, it has flourished and grown in numbers. There’s a tremendous atmosphere as folks come together to do some crafting on Tuesday mornings. There’s no pressure to do a particular amount, or a particular project, and people work away on different projects enjoying the company and the opportunity to chat and be creative together, at whatever level you operate. The crafters did a beautiful display of poppies for our recent service of remembrance but, so often, apart from such spectacular outcomes, the real value is in the conversations people have as they come together.

This Thursday, we look forward to welcoming Mike Donal as part of the Mind Matters series of talks and seminars. He will be sharing his powerful story of personal struggle and the difference finding a Christian faith has made to his mental health. The meeting is at 7.30pm in the Huston Hall and all are welcome. If you have a friend or neighbour or family member who you think might appreciate the evening, why not invite them along? They would be so welcome.

In the Bible, there are many references, not only to what is going on in our lives, but also to what is happening to our inner life. I love the prayer in Ephesians 3 where St. Paul prays, not only for what is happening on the outside, but for their inner being. He prays very simply that Christ might dwell in their hearts through faith.

This season of Advent and Christmas is a time when those internal struggles are often heightened due to the stresses people face. These would include things like bereavement and loss, loneliness and financial worries. The marketing drives for everyone to have the best Christmas can often leave us feeling inadequate and worthless, and far from the picture of domestic bliss the media presents to us as the norm.

Let’s resolve to keep an eye out for one another and care for each other as people journey through all sorts of tough things and emotions at this time.

Can I ask you to hold in your prayers the Sloan family circle as they grieve the loss of Ken who died earlier this week. Ken’s funeral will take place next Tuesday 3rd December at 2pm in church, and we surround the family with our love and prayers.

Don’t forget our Advent carol service this Sunday evening at 7pm.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono. 

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