HOW ARE YOU DOING?

How are you doing, blog reader? Most of the hundreds of people who read this blog I do not know, but I am still concerned about their well-being. I would not be here otherwise. I hope and pray you and yours are well.

We are enduring crisis on crisis at this dark hour of our lives. We have discussed most of them here, but one we have not spent much time on is our mental health. Experts tell us, on top of everything else, we are in the midst of a mental health crisis. Suicides are up, particularly among young people. Alcoholism, drug abuse, spousal abuse, and child abuse are all up. Apparently these are all terrible side-effects of the pandemic. We must start by recognizing there is a problem. 

Our mental and emotional states are not usually things we want to talk about, and that is part of the problem. Too often we hide these issues only making them worse. A few years ago, a nephew of mine committed suicide. This was incredibly shocking because no one in the family knew he had had a problem. The people closest to him were wracked with guilt for a long time--- If we had only known we would have helped him.

Look around at the people you know who might need help the most. One group we often overlook is children and teenagers. Their lives have been disrupted too. If they stay at home to do remote learning, they are missing their friends, their old lives. Even if they go to school, they cannot interact with others the way they used to do. The isolation and social distancing are having bad emotional effects on our young people. Then there are the people who live alone, and the people who cannot get out at all, or out much. They are suffering too.

The point I am trying to make is that we have to take extra care these days to look after ourselves and our friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances. These are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary measures.

Taking care of ourselves is an individual thing. Here  is a helpful article on methods for coping. We can all add our own ideas to this list. For church people, I would add enhancing Bible reading, prayer life, and reading reflections of bright minds (as N.T.Wright's book, God and the Pandemic).

I am fortunate to have a large botanical garden which I am enjoying especially in these cool days of autumn. Everyone should have some satisfying interest of his or her own in which to devote time and energy. It does not have to be elaborate. It could be just simply walking around your neighborhood.

Finally, we must be conscious of looking after others. If you have children and grandchildren, you might reach out to them more than usual, the same with people you know who live alone.

We live in difficult times. We must recognize this. We must also recognize that there are ways we can help ourselves and others get through this dark night. No one should feel alone. We are all together in this boat. We will make it through the darkness together. Peace.

Autumn is arriving in my garden as this maple tree attests. In a week or so it will be at its full color.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon) is an old favorite in the south. This bush is still small but blooms well.

Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo 'Compacta') is an attractive evergreen shrub that blooms strawberry-like flowers. This one is just budding out. Each flower will make a "strawberry." This plant grows in abundance in the mountains along the coast of California. I brought this one back, in my car, from San Luis Obispo county, CA.

Cool weather means camellia time. This is an early form called Daikaigura variegated. Most camellias bloom in the winter, hence "the winter rose."