Fighting for joy, one day at a time.
An unfortunate but undeniable cultural stigma surrounds the topic of mental illness. Add decades of myths and flawed biblical teaching from the church to the mix and the shame only grows. May is mental health awareness month. With the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, activists work hard to raise general awareness and... Continue Reading →
What would I do with my life if I wasn’t afraid of facing judgment because of illness? Just thinking about this is saddening to me. I live my life in virtually constant pain due to amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS). Because my pain is something people can’t see, I am often in situations where misunderstandings... Continue Reading →
As I have worked through my questions and doubts, there are three things that I have needed to remind myself of. Maybe you will find them helpful too.
Being honest about my struggles with chronic pain is not always easy, but I think it is worth it if it helps even one person identify and fight lies in their own life. I want people to know that they are not alone.
i·de·al·is·tic /ˌīdē(ə)ˈlistik/ adjective. characterized by idealism; unrealistically aiming for perfection. Over the years, Christianity has received a lot of scrutiny for its idealism. Seemingly unattainable themes like purity, holiness, and perfection are not unique to Christianity, but are some of its defining characteristics. I can easily identify with any thinking person’s struggle with Christian idealism.... Continue Reading →
Alathia Hayes 