Tough not to laugh at your and Fr. Jim’s antics.
Yet and still …
It was a pretty harsh blow to hear Fr. Jim’s little parenthetical, “Catholicism and Christianity are not about depression.” Where does that leave Catholics and other Christians with depression?

Larry: It leaves us exactly where we always were, in God’s hands. Catholicism and/or Christianity aren’t about ANY state of mind,IMO, they’re about A state of HEART, which is what G-d looks at, luckily for ALL of us mortals.

this video is very good. I love to laugh and this video made me laugh a lot.I love watching these kind of video.thanx for posting this video..
thankyou
*********************************************************************
Philip Jones
Addiction Recovery Mississippi

Hey Larry….((((()))))Got your back brother…
Therese – my 13 year old just got done saying that when I shrieked at you hitting Fr Jim (Jim Who?) that he thought we were either being robbed or a whale was injured downstairs.
I proudly stayed quiet enough while websurfing, emailing, reading Merton and eating eggs rather than cocoa crispies, but that really cracked me up….and he’s right…I sort of screamed. Lol
will return to it w/you in mind Larry…need to groove on the smile though and work on getting ready for a Reds vs. Mets game…
pax Kate

What a delightful interview. I was hoping Father Jim was as funny as his wonderful saint book, and he is! So are you, Therese, and you look beautiful.

It was a pretty harsh blow to hear Fr. Jim’s little parenthetical, “Catholicism and Christianity are not about depression.” Where does that leave Catholics and other Christians with depression?
I don’t think Fr. Jim was belittling Christians (last I heard, Roman Catholics are also Christians) who have depression. Rather, he points out, rightly so, that one way to calm the depressed spirit is through joy and laughter.
Please do not take offense to what I just typed. I’m caught in a depression and anxiety disorder called PTSD. I am also a pastor (Lutheran, if that makes a difference). Right now I am a “sheepless shepherd” because I resigned from my previous congregation. Looking back at my experiences within the congregation, I should have realized something was wrong when I forgot hos to laugh. Everything became very serious, and I took myself too seriously (anyone familiar with narcicissm?).
I went on a mental health leave in Feb of 2007 (resigned from my parish in Jan of 2008). I knew my mental health was rapidly improving when I could tell spontaneous jokes and even laught at/with myself —- in other words, I quit taking myself seriously (does that mean I gave up narcissism for Lent?)
Yes, Christians (including RC and Lutheran types) do get depressed. That isn’t a problem. The problem comes when we choose to ignore our depressed spirit and therefore not avail ourselves to all the resources God gives us for healing — including joy, laughter and enjoying yourself as one of God’s less than perfect works of creation. Yet, saved for the joy and laughter of heaven in Jesus Christ. Ultimately we rest in His hands.

Ah well, probably time for a clarification. When I said, in that aside, that Catholicism and Christianity were not about depression, I didn’t mean that people who are depressed have no place in the Christian world! Or that Christianity has nothing to say to depression. Jesus of Nazareth came to people who were profoundly sad (think of Mary and Martha grieving their brother Lazarus) and assuredly met people in his time who were depressed, and may have even called them to join him in his life. (I always imagine Matthew the tax collector sitting at his tax booth, despairing.)
Probably a better way to say it is that even with its recognition that suffering is an inescapable part of life Christianity is, ultimately, a joyful project. The saints, all of whom suffered, understood this best of all. The Christian vision directs us, through the worst of our crises, to hope in new life, the the trust that things can change, to the Resurrection, and to joy. And when we get to heaven, where “every tear will be wiped away,” it’s not hard to believe that we will laugh with joy.

Larry – reflected before and while your Mets slid past my Reds last night….and I guess my response (for ME)…is that amongst all of “this”…I get from Sunday to Sunday knowing I’ll say again
“…only say the word and I shall be healed.”
I figure they promised then (as a kid) and owe me now (that I am entrusting my kids in similar pews)
Not sure who this Jim character is or where he stands..but that’s my reply anyway… mucho pax, K

Nice to meet you Fr Jim …glad you heard where Larry was coming from.
I was rephrasing for you in my head later on…adding to what you said with “RC and Christianity is about depression in the same way that it’s about severe bunion pain and cardiac arrest and devastating learning disability and…..” …and the the hope that lay and ordained pastors..and parishoners…deliver “the message” as salve rather than misplaced martyrdom…yes?
For some of us…it’s hard to see lightness in the trenches of depression…on both sides of the desk….or bedside.
(ps If you steal my phrase “misplaced martyrdom for a book title I will send T. on a plane to whack you again pronto… ; ) )

Thank you Therese, and thank you Father Jim for lightening and brightening our days with this delightful video. Your friendship is gratifying to see and your laughter is contagious!
I always learn a great deal from Father Jim. Thanks so much for sharing him with the Beliefnet community, Therese!

I could use a friend to talk to about depression . I have been depressed my entire life , and just struggled thru it by myself . But , understand I am not a pleasant person most of the time . Anyway , if you need someone , e-mail me . With work , I can’t always answer my e-mail everday . But , I will do my best . And thanks . Maybe I just need to sound off . I have a friend that says I am not mean , I am just hounest , to the point of being rude . But I don’t know how to beat around the bush .
Oh , and I’m not very computor “knowledgeable”.
So if you are brave enough , so here I am .
Prayers , Anna Lee

“A merry heart doeth good, like medicine…a broken spirit dries up the bones”.(Proverbs 17:22 (KJV). A merry heart maketh a cheerful continence, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.(proverbs 15:13 KJV). I believe every word. Thank you kindly for the opportunity to share this. More blessings to you.

Sadly UNFORGIVENESS brings upon people the illnesses of the mind! If they were to forgive the people who hurt them they would not have all this depression, bi-polar- & etc…. other mental illness. Jesus said not to go to bed angry at anyone — BUT they are many bad people out there to hurt us but Unforgiveness helps us get over the hump. Humor is quite necessary in our Society & nice to see one — Together in all the right places!

laughing is the ONLY way i have been able to convince peojple thati am christian and to get them to listen, most often repeatedly and with growing numbers becoming brothers and sisters in christ with me

I love to laugh – when I’m not too busy being Depressed – and even then sometimes I can still laugh.
I want to respond to Ed. Go check out some AA meetings and you will hear lots of laughter. I do believe “there is a time for everything under heaven” as it says in Ecclastiasis (spell?). There is a time for mourning and crying. And hopefully for healing. And forgiving. And Joy. And Serenity. May you experience them all, Ed.

the only i’m joyful is when I listen to holy music

Paul: I agree that holding onto resentment and anger does cause a lot of distress and that forgiveness would go a long way in helping many people live happier, more tranquil lives. But to assert that “unforgiveness” is the root cause of many mental illnesses is a little much.