I SHOULD BE DEPRESSED

I was recently told that I should be depressed. After all, I’ve had two major strokes and haven’t been able to work since 1993. They had a valid point because things keep happening to me to make my situation worse. Among the maladies is a nasty case of insomnia that has been particularly destructive. I often go several days at a time with little or no sleep. The worst part of that has been that it has caused me to miss going to church. Yeah, maybe I should be depressed.

On top of my many physical problems, the world is going to hell in a hand basket. 9-11 kicked off the 21st century and since then wars and natural disasters happen with such frequency as to make the general public numb. Political correctness has run amok so much that people can’t keep up with it and it drives people crazy. Winters are colder and summers are hotter so people fight over whether or not global warming is real while famines, drought, diseases are a worldwide epidemic. There’s more slavery in the world than at any point in recorded history. Gays are ruling politicians and infiltrating the church while we direct our attention to other arguments such as the number of abortions growing around us. The list of problems of the world goes on and on and the 21st century is only 10 years old. Some are beginning to believe we are at the beginning of the End Times. Yeah, maybe I should be depressed.

To top it off, my webmaster has to take a hiatus for a while at a time when the insomnia has affected my writing ability and my concentration. This is really not a good time to learn about building and maintaining websites and I don’t know where to find a temporary webmaster. Yeah, I should be depressed.

However, since the first stroke the Lord has helped me do more being disabled than I did before the stroke. Mary and I have seen most of the states and many countries; we’ve been to the top of a mountain and swam in oceans; bought a house together and remodeled it; made more friends at church than I ever expected; been to many veteran reunions together; gave our lives to Christ; and the best part is we pray together and each day I wake up is a gift from God. I should be depressed according to others, but I’ll pass.

The problems of the world are tough and they can be depressing. Natural disasters have happened with such frequency that people have barely enough time to digest the facts of one when the next one comes along. That is a hard fact to get around but those that survive are able to give of themselves to help the victims. Give your best in the name of Jesus and the effects can be astounding.

Politics are the one thing in this world than can be truly depressing. Politicians play games with our money and manipulate the public into a war of words and finger pointing as they blame each other for what is wrong in their lives. Meanwhile, attacks on Christianity grow while political correctness dictates our every move.

Maybe the world needs a massive revival or maybe it’s too late and we are heading towards the End Times. You can be depressed or you can give your life to Christ. Put forth your best efforts in life and say, “I’ve done my best, in your name, Lord, the rest is up to you”.

Yeah, I should be depressed. My abilities are getting worse and my webmaster is leaving. But, someone from his church stepped in to take his place until he can return. I gave my best and looked up to the Lord and told Him it’s in His hands and He leads someone new to help. How cool is that? I can’t travel for now and do things around the house like I used to, but I wake up and praise the Lord for another day and He guides me through tasks that I can handle and somehow life is good.

I really should be depressed and would be if I dwelled on what I can no longer do but another day comes and here I am. I still feed my animals and that leads me to something I have to share. I feel like this means something, but I don’t know what yet.

Those that know me know how I like to put peanuts out for birds and squirrels. I’ve done this for as long as we’ve lived in this house and the animals know me. Some of the squirrels will take peanuts out of my hand because they are used to me. I think they stopped seeing a man, which instinct tells them is a predator, and see an old guy that feeds them; nothing more.

A few days ago, I looked out of the living room window and saw a squirrel looking in at me. I grabbed the peanuts and stepped out to give him some but as soon as I stepped out, he ran down the steps and disappeared around the garage. I thought he was acting peculiar so I decided to just leave some peanuts on the railing for him. Just then, I felt something at my feet and heard something drop on the wooden surface. The squirrel came back from a nearby chestnut tree and left a fresh chestnut at my feet and went up the tree in front of the house and watched me finish. He gave me a gift.

Every once in a while someone will wonder why I’m not depressed. I should be. In fact, the insomnia was wearing down that day and getting on my nerves. It wouldn’t have taken much to push me into the abyss that is depression. But, something simple like a squirrel giving a predator a gift happens and I stop to thank God for what I just witnessed.

The world does seem like it’s hurtling out of control. We may really be facing the beginning of the end of the world as we once knew it. Only God really knows that for sure and I won’t debate it. I will marvel though when I pray in the name of Jesus and I’m given answers to a problem. I don’t have answers for the problems around me, but my world sure has been better with God in it. I should be depressed, but instead I will lift up my hands, smile and shout, “Praise the Lord”!

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 29:11