Depression...

I sat in meditation

wondering why this overwhelming sadness

so followed the mantra

deep within

not fearing the pain

but letting it show

My Lord

Why did it hurt so when my husband left?

I knew he was coming back

it was an overseas school trip

See, here he lies beside me

but my heart is cold to breaking.

Why, Lord, the unreasonable pain?

Thy beautiful chest
the Sacred Heart
Surrounded by thorns.
Will you let Me?
Just one pierces mine...

I see the same sadness in my 10-year-old son

and I want to release him too.

And I was ten again

kneeling at my bed

crying because I had just been to 

Jesus Christ Superstar

and I would never see Jesus (John English) again

knowing the tears were for

my stepfather

who had left before Christmas.

One clean tear fell

and as it slipped down my cheek

the sweet salt on my lips

a drop of blood

dripped down Your exquisite Chest

the same chest I blushed over at Your baptism.

You bled for me!

You took the greater burden

and purged me!

As gratitude and wonder swelled,

it dawned:

He came back!

and sleeps beside me again.

And I tucked into a cuddle with my man

Warm and loving again...

You are the New Covenant

the sins are not passed on down the generations

if we dare to prevail upon You.

A new wonder dawns at another view of

"You died for us, You suffered for us"

to share and carry our burdens

You recognise our sins stem from wounds

We stagger under.

You tenderly hold out Your Hand

to pluck the thorn

to bleed with us...

I watch confessions of debilitating depression

and people's heroic efforts to tame the demons

staggering under loads not their own

and I wish many more would prevail upon You

who aches to release us all

to bask in His Love

Lord I pray that many more find You

Just taste, just try,

Even as an experiment...

Just open a chink

to let You open their door wide!