Embracing Eeyore this Christmas
This year, we have been reflecting on mental health and our fractured well-being. While eating dinner at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom, our staff met ‘Eeyore,’ the notably most downcast of Christopher Robin’s friends. It is suggested that when A.A. Milne created Winnie the Pooh's characters, he based their personalities on different mental health disorders. Eeyore’s character is believed to represent “depressive disorder,” having a bleak outlook on life.
Despite the festive Christmas season, we understand this time can also bring forth challenges and struggles for many. Eeyore lived in a magical forest with all his friends and was still gloomy and depressed. Whatever circumstances you come into the Christmas season with, many among us, like Eeyore, can find ourselves battling mental health struggles.
Most recently, we hosted a conversation on this topic at our annual celebration at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia. We also invited the Porter’s Gate music collective to join us for the evening and sing from their album, “Sanctuary Songs,” written about mental health struggles and faith.
Eeyore frequently tells his friends, ‘Thanks for noticing me.’ This Christmas season, we remember and take comfort that the baby born in a manger was the most radical way the Creator of the universe could show us that He notices us.
Now may the Lord of peace himself always give you peace in every way. The Lord be with you all. – 2 Thessalonians 3:16
The Porter’s Gate collaborated with Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries to create “Sanctuary Songs,” an album about mental health and faith. Give yourself the gift this Christmas season of listening to these songs and creating space to lament, grieve, and hope in our God during trying times.
The Clapham Group will donate to Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries this year, an organization seeking to equip the church to support mental health and wellbeing.