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The Midcities' Bedford plays host to its epynomous Blues and BBQ Festival today and tomorrow. Featuring the classic music of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and with a forecast of good weather, the combination of rich music, tasty food, and great crowds will certainly make for a ironically fun time.
The Blues originates from Southern spirituals of the 19th century and came to be known for expressing sorrow, pain, and emotional wounds. Interestingly, the song Dallas Blues was reportedly the first blues song to be copyrighted in the genre.
Though the music is relatively new, the blues really go back much earlier. The Bible details many accounts of people who experienced serious bouts of sorrow, pain, and emotional wounds. If they were to be diagnosed today, they may be told they suffer from depression. The prophet Elijah was driven to the wilderness in fear of for his life and lamented that his future promised only doom. Israel's King David found himself in proverbial valleys on multiple occasions, whether fleeing from Saul early in his life, lamenting the terminal illness of his newborn son later on, or even fearing that his adult son Absalom had patricidal intentions even later. Jesus agonized emotionally about his destiny to die on the cross. Even the Apostle Paul famously cried out in anguish, "Who will free me from this body of death?"
If such prominent personalities as these wrestled with sorrow, sadness, depression, the blues, or whatever name fits, then it should not be a surprise that this emotion is so commonly experienced today. Even as common as it may be, it is often poorly handled because the social stigma that has come to be attached with it, particularly within Christian circles. When news comes that a Christian is depressed, all sorts of improper responses are sounded.
- That the person should be isolated because he just wants to be left alone.
- That the person obviously has a "sin issue" or a problem with God.
- That the person doesn't want to talk about it because talking about it only makes it worse.
- That the person just needs to hear Romans 8:28 and everything will be okay.
The truth is, the blues are a real emotional response to adversity. The depth of this depression can be shallow, deep, or somewhere in between. Its duration can be brief or extended. At times, it is proper to seek medical treatment and professional assistance in overcoming bouts of depression.
If you find yourself in a valley of depression, one of the healthiest things you can do is acknowledge it. There is nothing to be gained in denying it or just trying to "tough it out." Don't isolate yourself, exclude yourself and abandon your friends. Surround yourself with godly, supportive friends who can give you good counsel and faithful encouragement. Be brave enough to seek professional help if you need it.
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Seek opportunties to be balanced socially, emotionally, professionally, physically, and spiritually. Get adequate rest, but get ample activity into your life. Be transparent to God and cry out to him. Find healthy ways to express yourself to God and to others. That may mean picking up a guitar and playing the blues, writing a poem, or journaling your thoughts.
Likewise, if you notice a friend or loved one exhibiting symptoms of depression, don't be too polite to become more engaged in their life. Help your friends pursue healthy options to overcome their depression. Be willing to talk with your loved ones, with the principle that you should listen twice as much as you speak. Finally, be willing to take the initiative to implement lifestyle changes that help pull your friend out of a rut and help put them back on a path of health and happiness.
Jesus said that he came to give you life to the full...that means a life filled with the ups as well as the downs. When you find yourself or someone you love in a season of sadness, remember that the shadows of the real-life blues do come to pass, giving way to the bright light of hope in God's goodness, both in the here and also in the hereafter.
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