The Wisdom of Ferris Beuller
The air feels a bit heavier these days. I think it is quite normal to feel the weight of what is going on in the world and in our lives especially at this time of the year. In fact, Monday was Blue Monday this year. This is the name which was given to a day in January (usually the third Monday of the month) by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2005. It is considered the most depressing day of the year. Interestingly, January 21 is the international Hug Day. I’m sure this is not a coincidence. How do we deal with the feelings of sadness, depression, and loss? How do we deal with the blues? Some sing the blues, I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day off. The main character, Ferris Bueller, proclaims in a monologue that “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” I have always loved this quote, and loved the movie, mostly because I was not the type of person who would skip school, in fact, I only skipped one class in Grade 12. I don’t think it is about breaking the rules, but it is a reminder that we need to appreciate the present moment because ordinary moments often fly by unnoticed if we are not paying attention. Perhaps we have lost focus by the middle of January after the heightened awareness and celebration of Christmas and all that this means and brings. January can feel quite ordinary after the decorations have been taken down and the extra food disappears, and the social gatherings are no longer expected. For the introverts of the world, this may be a comforting time of year. That being said, sometimes we just feel down and we don’t always know why.
It is always good to be reminded of the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the people who are there for us and supporting us. And it is important to explore our various losses in life that can lead to sadness, whether it is the loss of a loved one, a friendship, our identity, ability or role. All of these losses come with grief and God does not expect us to just have faith and move on. Loss is something that should be honoured, named, carried together and slowly transformed. The bible doesn’t hide grief, and Jesus does not shame grief. The bible is full of raw lament (often found in the psalms). These lamentations give voice to communal devastation. When our hearts are broken, the loss draws God ever closer. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” There are many stories, such as Job's, that help us to understand that even when it feels like there is no hope left and that God is nowhere to be found, God is there! Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Do not remember the former things…I am doing a new thing.” This verse is giving us permission to grieve and slowly imagine life differently. Our faith teaches us that we can speak the truth in lament and we can grief our losses openly. The Bible tells us that God is steadfast and will remain close to us no matter what.
If you are feeling blue embrace it AND at the same time remember that there is also love that can come in the form of a hug, a gentle word of encouragement and the spirit of God moving among us and through us. Do not be afraid for God is with us, holding us, and caring for us. And maybe, just maybe we need to take a page out of Ferris’ book and stop and look around for if we don’t we might miss this fact!
Blessings, Rev. Karen