Lenten Writing Prompt #19
What do you think about mental illness in the Bible? Is there a story that you feel illustrates an aspect mental illness? How can we mirror Jesus in including mental illness in our lives and our community or loving others or ourselves as God's unique creations?
ReplyDeleteThe Purse
Once there was woman named Sal.
She lived on the streets.
She was mentally ill and very afraid.
She came to the church for worship
four random times each year.
She would always come in late and sit in the back by herself,
gently rocking back and forth whispering over and over
“Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus”
She would show up at some of the Wednesday potlucks
and get her food to-go.
At the end of the food line she would leave a tiny note.
Each time the words on the note read
“love always”.
The kids began to welcome her when she was willing,
and to help her when they were able.
When she died and was found by a stranger
an ambulance took her directly to the morgue.
The person who took care of her body
began by removing the big red purse that she died clutching.
The big purse was empty except for three things;
a small pocket cross,
the pastor’s business card
and twelve tiny notes.
The pocket cross was just like the ones
the church gave to the young people in confirmation class.
A young girl gave one to Sal as something to hang onto when she needed help.
She hung on to it, for nine years.
The pastor gave Sal her business card with a phone number
to call if she was in trouble.
She called – but only once
and didn’t know what to say when the Pastor answered,
so she hung up.
The twelve tiny notes
all said the same thing
“love always”
Those notes will be given out to the twelve confirmation students
when they complete their classes
next spring.
At thanksgiving this fall
the congregation will use that purse
as a collection plate.
It will remind them of their
mentally ill, fearful friend Sal.
It will remind them that we are all children of God.
It will remind them that life isn’t always fair.
And, it will remind them
that we all have reasons to give thanks.
Very powerful and moving.
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