The Tribune

By Rev Canon Sebastian Campbell

(PART I)

Depression is said to be in a hollow or low place:

• To be low in spirits ie dejection to be pressed down.

• To feel glooming of saddened.

• It brings about reduced business activity.

• It causes a lowering in the rate of muscular or nervous activity.

Worry is a troubled state of mind. One and same in symptoms as depression. Worry leads to depression.

David Jeremiah says that worry is a giant in one’s life that must be slain if you are to live up to your fullest potential.

Biblical imagery that helps us here is David and Goliath; 1 Samuel 17: (vs 24) Israel ran away in terror on seeing Goliath; (vs 26) David stands on his faith, “After all who is this heathen Philistine to defy the army of the living God?; (vs 33) The King worries, “You’re just a boy and he is a soldier all his life”; (vs 34) David stands in tradition of the past, “I take care of my Father’s sheep. Anytime a lion or bear carries off a lamb, I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death. I have killed lions and bears and I will do the same to this heathen Philistine, who has defied the army of the living God. The Lord has saved me from lions and bears, he will same me from this Philistine”; (vs 45) Where is your foundation. You are coming against me with sword, spear, and Javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Israelite armies which you have defied. This very day the Lord has put you in my power; I will defeat you and cut off your head.”

Personification of this double headed giant:

Survey of my life I have experienced many crippling forces that was sucking all the joy out of life from childhood to now. When the thunder rolled and lightening flashed, I worried for fear I would be killed by lightening. When night came and all around was dark, I worried about ghost.

I heard heart wrenching stories of how spirits roamed the streets walking off with people. Some never to be seen again. I head of fiery rolling carts and headless men at the wheel speeding through bushes. It put fear in me, you never wanted to be out in the dark and you would never go alone.

Worried when it didn’t rain, long seasons of drought and the need to draw water and water hundreds of plants.

Worried about the future – passing examinations. Leaving Cat Island – love and comfort of home. Finding a comfortable place to live and be loved. Finding the appropriate school. Making new friends.

Acceptance by new people. Competing with new people. Coming up with money to survive away from home. Passing requisite subject to matriculate in college. Scholarship to go to college

Rise of the drug trade and how to survive without getting involved. Saying the appropriate thing at the right time. Marriage – why is it necessary? Using right words. Children and having the right ones. How to be accepted by friend, to drink/smoke/cuss, etc. Choosing the right career or choosing one or more.

Money? How much to be happy? Where to really settle down and work. When to cuss out the boss. What to do when people encroach on my freedom.

How do I know I’m free?

Business investments: how, what, where? A house/home – where? When? Ever?

Sickness – how to handle traumatising bouts in the family? Cancer/AIDS/diabetes/dementia; funeral/burial .

Ask me is my life has ever been troubled by worry? My life has almost been ruined by it. Before I learned to conquer worry, life was a living hell. I was irritable and hot tempered. I lived under horrific tension. I never lived in the present; I lived in the past or in the future. Story of Moses and the burning bush; Moses was at the crossroad, in the midst of things he didn’t understand. So he turns to God, “What’s your name?” Name encapsulates our very being. God says “I AM.” I used or I am going to be. I AM – present. God is present in the here and now.