Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere

Pr. Todd Peperkorn has written an important little book on depression entitled I Trust When Dark My Road published by LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  This is both a timely and a courageous work.  It is timely because depression is one of those things "we just don't talk about" in the stoic corridors of Lutheranism.  It is courageous, for seldom does one hear of a pastor speak of his own struggles with depression. Pr. Peperkorn nicely summarizes the mindset that underlies our pietistic denials:

"Far too many well-intentioned Christians are imbued with the conviction that strong people of faith simply don’t become depressed. Some have come to believe that by virtue of one’s baptism, one ought to be insulated from perils of mind and mood. Others whisper unkindly that those who cast their cares upon the Lord simply wouldn’t fall prey to a disease that leaves its victims emotionally desolate, despairing and regarding suicide as a refuge and a comfort — a certain means to stopping relentless pain.

Although Christians are willing to acknowledge that illness and tragedy can befall God’s children, many are less charitable about characterizing depression as a legitimate, biologically based illness. Sadly, clinical depression is often misunderstood as a character flaw, a deficit of will or an absence of sufficient faith. Some glance aside, wagging their heads sadly believing that depressed people simply don’t choose to “snap out of it” or that they just don’t choose to “suck it up” and get on with what it is they’ve been given to do."

Pr. Peperkorn charts his journey in first-person narrative through the "dark road" of depression.  He is bluntly honest, revealing the inner darkness all too often veiled by white robes, colorful vestments, and a pastoral smile. He is vulnerably articulate concerning his pain, frustrations and failings.  Unlike so many pastor-as-protagonist narratives, Pr. Peperkorn does not come out the Christian super-hero, triumphing over depression with a "victorious faith."  Instead, he emerges with a deepened and humbled sense of his own brokenness and God's infinite grace in Jesus, through whose suffering our suffering is transformed into gift and blessing.

This book causes me to reflect on how intimately interconnected are body, mind, and spirit and how careful we must be when speaking the language of repentance and faith to those who are suffering.  Depression is not a choice.  One does not choose to be depressed, nor does one choose not to be.  Living in the fallen world as we do means that we are often dealt a hand that is considerably less than a royal flush, but under the all-reconciling cross of Christ even a pair of deuces can be played out as a winner.

Pr. Peperkorn offers no easy answers, no pious prescriptions, no religious bromides.  This is, as the subtitle says, a Lutheran view, which means that it deals with the thing as it is under the cross of Jesus.  His book will be a comfort to anyone who is suffering from depression, and will enlarge the empathy of those who do not so suffer.   It is available free as a pdf download or in book form from LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  

While you're at it, check out some of the other enticing offerings at the LCMS WR/HC bookstore.