The Good Samaritan by Vincent Van Gogh

While the kids watch TV my husband and I steal a quiet
moment at the edge of the yard.  Sitting
side-by-side at the end of the driveway, the garage shades us as we talk about
the morning’s sermon.

“I really liked the painting,” my husband says. “It makes me
want to have more paintings of gospel stories. 
To hang them in the house.”

That morning I spoke on the parable of the Good Samaritan
and rather than making a formal power point presentation, I used Van Gogh’s
rendition of the story as a visual backdrop to the discussion.

“Yeah,” I reply, “It really helped me when I was preparing.”

It’s one thing to read about acts of love, another to see
them laid out stroke, by stroke in rich yellows and blues.

“I found a post where someone wrote about it,” I add.  “It’s by Van Gogh.  He painted it when he was in an asylum.”  Tipping my head to the side and shrugging my
shoulders with my hands spread wide 
I add with a grin, “So . . . you know . . .  me
and, Van Gogh.”

We exchange looks and laugh. 
 

“Yeah,” he says, “You and your pal, Van Gogh.”

//

Parker Palmer struggled with debilitating depression.  As did Henri Nouwen. 

When I was in the psychiatric hospital last summer, I
gathered these names and held them to myself as evidence that mental illness
and hospitalization didn’t have to be a stigma. 
Their stories gave me hope that despite struggles, my life could proceed
with productivity and meaning. 

This past Sunday, after reading about his painting online, I
added Vincent Van Gogh to my list.

// 

This week I’m approaching what my counselor eloquently
referred to as a “tender anniversary.” 

A year ago this Thursday I had my first panic attack.  My heart beat furiously, waves of heat and
chills ran through my back.  My stomach
flopped.  I lay on the living room floor,
unable to get up.  I called my husband at
work and asked him to pick up our kids and come right home.  I canceled my plans for the weekend, which
included preaching, and made an appointment with my primary care Dr. 

Still, the panic continued, pulling me under, like a rip
tide.  Six days later we woke a friend in
the middle of the night, asking her to come and stay with our kids while John
drove me to the ER.  The next evening,
after a long wait, I was admitted to the Behavioral Health unit. 

I’m telling you this because it happened.  It’s part of the truth of my life.  I’m also telling you this because it happens –
every life is filled with shadow and light.

And lastly, I’m telling you this because I want you to know
that you can add my name to your list

When fear rages and panic sets in. 

When you’re unable to eat, unable to sleep. 

When you make a difficult Dr. appointment and fill a
prescription you’d rather not need. 

When you or your child needs to make that scary trip to the
ER, to be sheltered for a while until the meds kick in. 

You can add my name to your list.

Me and Palmer, Nouwen and, of course, Van
Gogh.       

Linking with #TellHisStory.

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