Posted by junie on January 8, 2003, at 7:11:35
In reply to Re: Distance from Christ: AD, posted by rayww on December 27, 2002, at 11:58:34
> > Thanks, Rawww(?) It's ray ww (wonderful woman :)
>
> >It is just that prior to the meds I seemed to have a borderline-genius sensitivity to God, His Spirit and people's issues. It was way intense. I felt as if I was having third heaven revelations, incredibly deep and all the while I was extremely physically sick.
>
> I've been there too. Right before I was diagnosed bipolar I felt like I was living in the "inbetween" place. Everything had a heavenly interpretation. I connected to nature and felt one with the earth. I gained new insight into earth culture and felt a kinship to the ancient belief; I felt like I understood far more than the modern natives do. But looking back, I still consider that to be one of my highest genuine spiritual moments. I could tell what others were thinking and feeling, and had fun guessing and playing word games with people. I also felt very misunderstood, like people were looking at me and saying "Huhhhhh?" (well, perhaps they still do)
>
> > Now the meds have dampened that 'spiritual' high.
>
> That is good. Think, "mainstream" and try to get there. It's a safer place.
> >
> > I relate to Job greatly in many ways; I have spent much time in the book that bears his name. Job's journey in deep pain and sickness takes him from self-justification ("I hate God, he shouldn't make me suffer, I DESERVE better treatment) to God-justification ("I repent because I spoke of things I did not understand: i.e. God is master of this life in all things, not me).
> > I have gone through the same journey and my faith is a lot stronger because of it.
> >
> > bless you
> >
> > psych
>
> Bless you! In going through those things it is so easy to turn the other way and lose your faith. But, I have always found it easier to cling to faith in those difficult soul wrenching moments, like nothing else matters. And then they pass and faith is stronger.
>
> Did Job ever turn away from God?Hi! This is my first time posting. I'm bi-polar and a christian and I struggle with the same things mentioned in this thread. I've come to realize that the emotional part of my belief in christ and God may fluctuate with my moods, but like any major committment(ie marriage, decisions are ideally based on emotions and inellect. I prefer being emotionally close to christ, but when that's not happening because of a chemical thing (and I have gotten pretty good at telling when that is after years of on/off meds) then I remind myself that the emotions will be back and i do have another part of my belief that consists of an intellectual committment to live a certain way. Hope this gives something to chew on anyway. Thanks for even broaching the faith/meds/mental health issue!
junie
poster:junie
thread:1468
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/1530.html