Many of us have had blah days - days when we feel 'the blues,' when nothing goes right, when we feel irritable or depressed. Usually these moments are of short duration. Yet for some, the blahs are a part of daily life. Those of us who have never been clinically depressed can probably not understand what it is like to wake up in the morning and find that we do not have the strength or will-power to even get out of bed. Life seems too much, too overwhelming, too hard...like the Psalmist who cried to God, it feels that we live in a black pit with no way out.
 
Karl Menninger (founder of the Menninger Clinic) once defined mental health as 'balance.' He said it is like riding a bicycle. Most of us may lose our balance for a short time, but we quickly regain our balance; others, however, are not so fortunate...their balance is lost not for hours but for days, weeks, even years. 
 
I mention all this because in these difficult economic times, many have been tested beyond their coping skills. Many have lost their balance. As a Christian community, we all need to be more aware of and attentive to those around us. In the meanwhile, let us remember that seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness but of strength; it signifies one's deep resolve to regain their balance and live a fuller life.
 
A final thought, about 25% of Americans l8 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year (statistic from the National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov). If you are doing well, say a prayer of gratitude. If you know someone who is hurting, please hold them in your prayers.