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What's for real?

One of the taglines of evangelical Christianity today is authenticity, and rightfully so because wouldn't we want to be honest and true with those were walking the same spiritual path that we are walking? As we close our eyes at night to go to sleep the conscience rests or it is at unrest I think all this depends on whether or not we are being truly authentic. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, and it is with the eyes of faith that we rest truly in God. One of the things that I have to constantly deal with is the fact that I'm on medications for the rest of my life. This is a choice that I made because I see the commonsense in medications. Some would say that I'm better off going it another way quite possibly a more natural way of dealing with depression, and they might have a point. But the way that society is structured right now leave no other option but to seek the help of those who are most equipped to deal with the illness that I'm suffering from. Emotional illness or depression cannot be cured but he can be treated through medications. This leaves those with some who are suffering, a sense of hope for the future and for today.

If we had no medication to treat depression I don't think that many people would be able to function in everyday society. The fact that there are churches and hospitals and minister people like myself is a great testimony to the second chance opportunities that those like myself get after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Part of the worry and the concern is the side effects that some of these medications seem to have. It seems like it's a no-win situation. You've been diagnosed with an illness and in order for you to be well again you have to take something that in effect can cause damage to your body. It would seem obvious to those not suffering with an emotional illness that certain medications would definitely be out of the question. But that hasn't been my experience. I really don't know what my life would look like if I stopped taking my medications, I know I might revert back to old behavioral problems, but isn't that what the medication is treating? The question I have right now about medications is if they're only treating the behavior and they're not curing the illness then why am I still taking them? Am I some kind of guinea pig to society that I have to behave in a certain way? The answer to that question is kind of tricky because yes we are called to be responsible human beings and if we cannot do that on our own, then some kind of therapy or medication is needed in order to control behaviors that are out of control. I don't think I was ever at that point where I was about to lose control but very easily with the symptoms that I was having was not able to think properly. This caused confusion in my mind.

Hence I return to what is real. What is real is that I am loved by God and loved by others. What is real is that God has promised a future for me. What is real is that I'm forgiven of my sins through Jesus Christ. What is real is that life isn't perfect and in the imperfections we find beauty. There is no beauty in ugliness but there is beauty to be found when we are open to God and to the life that he brings to us. I have found this to be true not only in my thoughts but in my experiences. God is love and life is beauty. Find beauty in love.

This is Mike.

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