Winter light and lifelines

Still shining: Westport lights, post-Christmas

The Christmas lights in our homes and churches are all taken down and packed away now for another year. Many of us are glad at this and at the return to some kind of normality to our lives and routines, after all the hype and pressure surrounding the celebration. Others experience something else, a sadness or melancholy which is difficult either to explain or to describe to those fortunate enough not to know the experience. 

Yes, this is a hard time of year for many people, not least for those who suffer from 'SAD' - Seasonal Affective Disorder - on account of the short days and lack of natural light. Such mood disorders or experiences of low mood, can be distressing and extremely debilitating, leaving the sufferer feeling quite isolated and alone, depressed and hopeless.  More, those who experience such struggles often experience on top of this, a sense of guilt or shame at feeling sad when our outward circumstances are actually very positive; for example, our basic human needs, for shelter, food, companionship and community, may be met and we may even be quite comfortably off, in terms of our living situation, and yet there is an internal unease and a heaviness of our spirits, or worse. 

In light of this, perhaps it might help to throw a lifeline (or two or three) for any SAD-sufferers out there in our parishes and communities. Here goes!

First: If you are numbered among this group, hold on to these few simple 'chords' or lifelines: 

Chord 1: The days are getting longer! The shortest day in the year in our part of the world is 21 December (Winter Solstice), so we are already well past that pivotal date. 

Chord 2: You are not alone but are "in good company". In Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) estimates that around 7 per cent of the population experience SAD, and in the UK some estimates suggest that one in three people are affected. 

Chord 3: You are not alone but are "in good company", the good company of "the friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24) whom Christians understand to be the Risen Jesus, who is with us by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. God in Jesus Christ promises to never leave us, never forsake us but to stay with us 'to the end of the age'. (See, for example,  Matthew 28:20 and Hebrews 13:5.)

Lastly: If, in spite of all of the above, we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, at any time, there are always people to whom we can speak in confidence and who will share the burden, help and support us; for example, a Doctor (/GP), a Priest or Rector (- for these COI parishes, +353 83 800 3233), or the highly-respected Samaritans (+353 91 561 222 /website samaritans.org). 

Spring is coming, but in the interim, let's hold on to hope, look after ourselves, and not be afraid to ask for help, both human and divine.