Reasons to be Down but Not Out + The Good Shepherd

mental health MON

Down . . . But Not Out! *

* First comes some items which MIGHT have me feeling a little down--at least a little disconcerted--followed by signs that I am not necessarily feeling "out."

• National Review Online is a favorite source of reliable, partisan news & commentary, so I jumped at the chance at a free, one-year subscription. Apparently I didn't notice that it would be a free, one-year, EMAIL subscription . . . the plethora of NR articles is serving to clog my emails, yet I hesitate to delete any of the articles before I at least give them a quick perusal. [Which I did this morning, MON 1/16, as I performed some quick, email triage. I especially noted some NR news & commentary re:  the recent Golden Globes & Meryl Streep debacle.]
• I'm waiting to hear if the LHSANN Board acted on my formal request for them to grant me a peaceful release from my Call, effective 3/1/17. I was told that they would act upon my request at their Board mtg on 1/16. If & when that happens, I can request emeritus status from the NE District LCMS Office. I have no reason to think that this won't happen, but I will feel much better when it happens. ["Oh ye of little faith," NCSBCT. *] UPDATE:  I found out at yesterday's Bible Institute that tonight's LHSANN Board Mtg was postponed to later in this week. Patience, Paul, patience!
• Inability to be resolute about resolutions. I think I've blogged before about my skepticism re:  the efficacy of New Year's resolutions. Well, I also think I've mentioned my skepticism re:  a resolution to shy away from politically-charged items, & I was [semi-] serious about this resolution for the sake of my mental health . . . so why do people--including some of my own family members--keep provoking me?! Do you/they not understand the concept of agape love? **
• After what seemed like weeks of weather forecasts of dire predictions of an ice storm that would strike our area, beginning late last evening, it happened. Christ Lutheran did not have school because of a teacher in-service, which was cancelled. I got a text message earlier this morning, informing me that the Orphan Grain Train offices would be closed. Lois just told me that one media source just described local streets as "beyond treacherous." We both have the day off, meaning that we get to enjoy each other's company. Not sure why I'm including this under "Down . . . but Not Out." It may be because my better house may start delivering gentle reminders any time about the plethora of household tasks that I need to attend to?!

* Nebraska Cornhusker Blog Consulting Team
** "First, there you go again, flaunting your multi-lingual perspicacity. Second, are YOU displaying agape love with this comment? We're just sayin'." NCSBCT 

Reasons to Feel Happy . . .or at Least Content

• On SAT 1/14, I put 41, 2016 Christmas cards containing "generic" 2016 generic "Merry Christmas/Epiphany from the Leckband's in Nebraska" letters in them. This allows me to cross an item off my TO-DO list, which has implications for my OCD; also allows me a certain measure of closure.
• Cluster headache update:  I think I've reported earlier that I began a cycle of cluster headaches before Christmas. They slacked off, then resumed after we returned from Texas. I paid a visit to my neurologist, who prescribed an increase in one of my preventative medications. After a few days, my headaches disappeared--for three days. Sadly, I had to take medicine at bedtime last night, accompanied by oxygen. It was more of the headache precursors than the actual skull-piercing agony, & I wasn't entirely sure that I hadn't over-reacted. Well, I was awakened at 1:30a by pain in the usual spot, just above & behind my left eyeball. I got up & took a pill, went back to bed & did controlled breathing. I omitted the oxygen, because I didn't want to wake up Lois. There was pain, but not the unendurable type, & after about 15 minutes it was gone. * [* Yes, technically this should belong in the "Down . . . but Not Out" feature, but I had started this entry when it looked like my cycle was over. I was too lazy to move it. And--as if you needed a reminder--it's still my blog.]

A recent addition to my quiet time resources

I've been reading through A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by Phillip Keller (Daybreak Books), 1970. It's been around for awhile, & I've often come across gems from it, but I've never gotten around to reading it. I ran across it at a book fair hosted by the Norfolk Rescue Mission. As I've been reading excerpts as part of my daily quiet time, I'm finding--which often happens--that daily meditations speak directly to spiritual challenges that are affecting me here & now. Here is an example.
     "One of the great revelations of the heart of God given to us by Christ is that of Himself as our Shepherd. He has the same identical sensations of anxiety, concern & compassion for cast men & women as I had for cast sheep. This is precisely why He looked on people w/such pathos & compassion. It explains His magnanimous dealing w/down-&-out individuals for whom even human society had no use. It reveals why He wept over those who spurned His affection. It discloses the depth of His understanding of undone people to whom He came eagerly & quickly, ready to help, to save, to restore.
      "When I read the life story of Jesus Christ & examine carefully His conduct in coping w/human need, I see Him again & again as the Good Shepherd picking up 'cast' sheep. The tenderness the love, the patience that He used to restore Peter's soul after the terrible tragedy of his temptations is a classic picture of the Christ coming to restore one of His own . . . "  [page 64] *
* You will have to acquire this resource yourself to find out the author's definition of "cast sheep." I can't do everything for you!