For regular readers of this diary, this entry is a re-run for you. But earlier today, I opened my e-mail to find two letters from readers who were requesting a copy of this particular piece. Even though past articles are always available in the archives, I don't mind repeating an article every now and then - especially one that might be of genuine help to someone."Sometimes You Just Have To Sing" originally appeared in late 2008. But it's subject is timeless, and considering what things people are going through today, it might be more important now than it was then.According to what I've read on the subject, the holiday season is a
prime time for many people to experience depression. I won't go into
the reasoning, but I can tell you I've lived it - and if you'll give me
just a second, I'll tell you of something that helped me beat it.
As
I've noted before, I'm not a musically-inclined person. But I am guilty
of singing in the shower or over a kitchen sink full of dishes. I've
gotten my fair share of odd looks when the driver of the car next to me
sees me trying to hit George Younce notes while sitting at the traffic
light. I've driven my family crazy with off-key singing and more than
once, I've seen our dog, Hercules, bury his head in the sofa cushions.
Yes, I take that line of "make a joyful noise" very seriously.
But
when depression set in, there were no notes...no jumbled words as I'd
unintentionally rewrite the latest radio hit...not once did I get stuck
on one line as I'd try to protect my wife's ears by humming instead of
singing...nothing.
It all stopped.
It was a bleak time
for me. I'll admit that I didn't do the right thing and talk to a
trained professional. But I did bury myself in what on-line information
I could find. I latched onto Scriptures like Psalm 30:5, Isaiah 41:10,
and many others. And while I like to feel that my faith is great, I
felt as though I had washed up on a deserted island.
But then
something began happening... I started getting telephone calls and
e-mails out of the blue, as people would just call to say "Hey, you're
on my mind today... Just said a little prayer for you..." And I'm not
talking about one here, one there. Instead I'm talking several in a
row, in the span of just a few short hours...Roger Bennett, while in a
Houston hospital bed, with miles of IV tubes connected to him sent me
several passages of Scripture he "felt" I needed to read. Libbi
Stuffle, Michael Booth, Jonathan Wilburn, Karen Peck Gooch, and Tim
Lovelace were just a few of those who felt impressed to rally around
me. Nothing elaborate at all - just letting me know things, somehow,
someway, were going to be OK. Even ol' Jerry Kirksey kept a close check
on me - although that might have been driven by the fear he was going
to have to put the entire magazine together by himself.
Mark
Trammell called, too. It was Mark who told me a story about something
that had happened to him years ago, when he was going through a rough
time of his own. As he was talking, he said "sometimes you just have to
sing" and though he kept on talking, my brain wrapped around that one
phrase. Still to this day, I don't remember what he said next.
Like
someone hitting rewind, I recalled how singing - awful as it might have
been - just a few bars of a song sparked a little joy in my soul and
heart. Singing a few words of "Victory of Jesus" or "What A Friend We
Have In Jesus" had just a few months ago kept darkness at bay.
I also immediately realized that I had not uttered one song during the whole time I was wallowing in despair.
I
doubt that you'll find it in any textbook, but that phrase was like
medicine for me. I can't describe it, but once I made myself sing out
again, light began filling my life again. It wasn't immediate, but I
could tell the difference. I'm sure that a professional could give me
all the "because of's," "why's," and "how's," but it was that spark in
Mark's phrase that began a turn around for me. Of course, I'll just sum
it up with one word: God.
If you are someone who experiences
depression, I urge you to seek professional help. It's a serious
condition that can turn deadly if not treated. A Christian counselor is
a great place to start. Your pastor, youth director or doctor can give
you great recommendations for direction.
But don't be afraid to seek solace in songs like I've mentioned, too.
Sometimes you just have to sing.