There are some subjects that are just taboo. 50 years ago, when one talked about cancer, they whispered: “cancer”. Then, we were uncomfortable talking about AIDS. . . we continue to have lists of subjects that are spoken about in almost inaudibly: drug addiction; alcoholism; eating disorders.

As a society, we continue to whisper when confronted with mental illness. We struggle with its stigma, concerned about opinions and public perception. Finally, popular media, such as the movie A Brilliant Mind, has helped us to begin to understand the pain and prevalence of mental illness.

Mental illness is a vast and complicated world, of which I am no expert. Really, we should be referring to “mental illnesses,” as they are so many, and so varied. Tonight, I will narrow my focus to a discussion of depression.

One medical definition of depression is: “a mental state characterized by extreme feelings of sadness, despair, hopelessness, and low self-esteem, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as loss of appetite and energy; the negative mood is out of proportion to any actual event or condition that may have precipitated it.”

For clarification (before you self –diagnose) almost all of us have sad times in our lives, challenging times indeed. These often occur after a traumatic event—such as the death of a spouse, or financial failure. These episodes often fade after some time and life becomes livable, enjoyable, again. But for some, the symptoms do not go away. The simplest aspects of life become excruciatingly agonizing.

Depression can strike anyone, at any time. It is not a flaw of character. It is not “the blues.” It is a disease, rooted in our brains' chemistry. 1 in 9 of us will have a depressive episode this year. 1 in 20 will require medical intervention. 17.6 million Americans, according to statistics from 1998, are currently suffering from a depressive illness. These numbers are not small. As society recognizes the breadth and depth of depression, we, too, must respond within our congregation. We must release ourselves from this place of shame and treat it as it should be: as a disease.

Medical treatment –whether through medication or therapy--is vital for someone suffering from depression. Through appropriate diagnosis and treatment, like anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy, most sufferers of depression return to normal, healthy, vibrant lives.

William Styron, in his bestseller on depression entitled Darkness Visible describes the disease as entirely overwhelming—and for those who have never had a depressive episode— an indescribable hell.

Styron's short book is an intense look into his own depression, which resulted in a seven-week stay in a hospital. His darkness was complete and total. Listen to these passages as he describes the horror of the illness:

Except in intractable terminal pain, there is always some form of relief; we look forward to that alleviation, whether it be through sleep or Tylenol or self-hypnosis or a change of posture, or most often, through the body's capacity for healing itself, and we embrace this eventual respite as the natural reward for having been, temporarily, such good doughty sufferers, such optimistic cheerleaders for life at heart. In depression, this faith in deliverance, in ultimate restoration, is absent. The pain is unrelenting, and what makes the condition intolerable is the foreknowledge that no remedy will come—not in a day, an hour, a week, or a minute. . . It is hopelessness more than pain that crushes the soul. . . for in virtually any other sickness, the victim would be laying flat in bed. . . His invalidism would be necessary, unquestioned, and honorably attained.

Being without hope is devastating. In discussing depression, a friend told me about her journey. She had no hope. The days lay before her as an expanse of pain and sadness. Fortunately, she was able to find a wonderful doctor. She believes that through medication, a good therapist, a wonderful community, and prayer, she was able to find hope, and bring her back into light.

Importantly, her doctors, and her community, validated her darkness—they didn't simply say “Hey, snap out of it- what's wrong with you?” Rather, friends said, “Hey—I know it's a hard day. Will you come with me to lunch anyway? You don't really have to talk if you don't to.” Time with her community didn't necessarily assuage her aching loneliness, but validation of her condition began to have an effect on her. In addition, attention from qualified caregivers added to her arsenal of support. Slowly, slowly, she was able to climb out of the cave. At first, she saw only slivers of light, for a few moments at a time. Eventually, joy wove its way back into her daily existence. For many who have suffered from depression, darkness is the most appropriate word. Light has deserted them. William Styron uses darkness as a major metaphor in in his book: “The vast metaphor which most faithfully represents this fathomless ordeal, however, is that of Dante. . . :

In the middle of the journey of our life
I find myself in a dark wood
For I had lost the right path.

An all-encompassing darkness helps us begin to understand the desperate hopelessness that often accompanies the sufferer. Even the famous Elijah, the prophet who visits our seder tables, known also as Eliyahu Hanavi, himself became plunged in desperate darkness. In I Kings, he successfully defeats the idolatrous gods of Ba'al and brings the people back to the worship of God. In doing so, he defies Queen Jezebel. When Jezebel hears of this, she threatens to kill him. Elijah fled for his life. He grows sad, and distressed, pleading with God to take his life. God strengthens Elijah with food, and Elijah is able to walk a very far distance.

However, at one point, Elijah enters a cave. He throws himself into complete darkness. When God asks him: “ What are you doing here, Elijah?” He repeats his fears for his life. His desperation is clear. God calls him out of the cave. God sends a mighty wind, an earthquake, and fire, but Elijah does not emerge. These strong gestures prove ineffective. Finally, God sends a soft murmuring sound: “The still small voice” a quiet encouraging sign of God's intervention. Elijah is strengthened by this quiet voice, and leaves the cave. Elijah, knowing God's support, is renewed, able to engage in life's battles again.

I am struck by this story. Elijah is initially without confidence in himself, and is without hope. He plunges himself into darkness. He is sure that he will be killed and is unable to find reprieve. Elijah seemed to suffer from a complete lack of self –esteem, and an inability to rely on himself.

God tries to help him—God sends incredibly dramatic and bold messages of God's steadfastness- an earthquake, fire, wind—and yet Elijah remains mired in darkness. Elijah finds light again only in the still small voice. It is in the stillness that Elijah could hear God's voice, and therefore begins to find hope and climb into the light. In finding hope, he was able to hear his own spirit, and reconnect with God. By journeying toward the still small voice of God, victims of depression have an added layer of support to help them climb out of the cave of illness.

In our quest to find the still small voice, prayer can be a therapeutic aid. Our prayer book offers a beautiful reading which speaks of transformational prayer:

Prayer invites God to let the Divine presence suffuse our spirits, to let God's will prevail in our lives. Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.(page 325, Gates of Prayer)

Debbie Perlman in a modern paraphrase of the Psalms, also finds relief from depression in prayer. In the “Plague of Darkness”, she writes:

Deliver me from the darkness of my soul,
Created by internal enemies, my defeaters;
They shake the foundation of my being,
They battle my innermost self.
Not as day fades to evening, but as thieves they come,
So abruptly they steal the light
That I stand immobile, mute.
Be again my Light, Holy One, as I seek the light.
Strengthen the stars, remove the obscuring clouds,
Unwrap the blindfold from my eyes;
Renew in my spirit fortitude and strength,
Your precious shard of brilliance, my sunrise.

Everyone goes through periods of feelings sad, lonely, or unhappy. Every day events, and our reactions to them, sometimes interfere with our peace of mind. That's all part of life. But when such feelings linger for weeks, or months, preventing a return to a healthy outlook on life, they could signal depression.

There are no easy solutions for the healing of depression. But with appropriate treatment, a supportive community, and connection to God will, we pray, lead from the cave of darkness into the light of day.

Amen.

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