As much as I appreciate Bell’s Let’s Talk Day for it’s efforts to raise the conversation around mental health, one of the difficulties of a day like that is that we be tempted to feel like we only have to talk about it one day of the year.

And the reality is, mental health is an everyday thing, not a one-day-a-year thing.

In the midst of the pandemic, there have been many studies and reports about how our mental health is suffering. I’ve shared here about my struggle with anxiety, but I also struggle with exhaustion and frustration right now. Everything is more difficult than it should be. Everything takes more energy than it would in normal times, and all of the things that feed my soul – working out with friends, snuggling with my chosen-nephews and chosen-niece, hanging out with their parents (and with other good friends), going out to dinner, visiting my folks, singing with my choir, singing with my congregation, hugs at the door after worship – are simply off the table. Or at the very least must be attempted over Zoom (which is both a God-send and a poor substitute).

So let’s talk about it.

Let’s not suffer in silence, because that isn’t strength and it isn’t healthy and it, frankly, robs the church of the ability to BE the church – the community of faith that helps each other journey through life.

Until tomorrow, dear friends, talk about your struggles, share with each other, help each other through the journey, and know that God is with you!