5 JUNE 2019 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Well it is that time again. Time for what? Time to remember that many of our Christian family members are or were regular people like our- selves. This column series features some of the heroes and heroines in the Bible with whom we can relate as we remember their everyday behavioral and even mental health struggles. In this column let’s consider a condi- tion that many of us misunderstand…. schizophrenia. When a person suffers from this mental health condition, they exemplify a variety of symptoms including but not limited to hearing voices and or seeing things that others do not see or hear. There are many contemporary exam- ples of individuals who suffer from schizophrenia. There are numerous television programs featuring stories of schizophrenia. If you ever have a chance consider watching the move, “A Beautiful Mind,” and “Lila and Eve.” Each of these movies features the per- spectives and/or experiences of indi- viduals suffering from schizophrenia. Here is another story of schizophre- nia. There was a father who loved his son so very much. He had left his hometown with his wife and nephew. He had his first child out of wedlock and was unable to keep the child at home. Then he finally had a second child with his wife. He loved this child dearly. One day the authorities brought him into the police station charging him with child abuse. They had learned that he had attempted to kill his son, claiming that God told him to do so. He also said that he changed his mind at the last minute. He never disputed the story. He insisted he was legitimate because God told him to do it. When the court was convinced that he was sincere in this story, they removed the child from the home, putting him if foster care. As well, they required the man to undergo psychiatric testing. After the battery of tests, he was determined to be schizo- phrenic and was put on medication and received psychotherapy in order to manage his homicidal tendencies. This story is a 21st century rendi- tion of what would have happened to a very famous Biblical Hero. I wonder if you can guess who that might be. I am certain some of you have figured this out by now. Yes, I am talking about Abraham, yet again. It is not that I am picking on Abraham. He is just a great case study exemplifying God’s love for us despite our imperfections, and challenges. It is important to realize that individ- uals who do not practice Christianity in the traditional way, or who act in ways that are different from our con- cept of normal, are as beloved by God as any of our well behaved, staunch- ly religious individuals who attend church every Sunday, Wednesday and/or other days of the week. It is equally important to realize that just because people see or hear things, we don’t does not mean that there is something necessarily wrong with them. Have you ever considered that perhaps they can see or hear things that exist of which we are incapable? It is so important not to see abnor- mality as inappropriate. It is also important not to be quick to judge a person’s story just because it does not fit our limited perspectives. When and if we see, hear, and/or do things that others do not…just remem- ber… WE ARE IN GOOD COMPANY. You Are In Good Company: A Case for Schizophrenia SCRIPTURE By Rev. Marjorie B. Lewis, Ph.D., D. Min. This story is a 21st century rendition of what would have happened to a very famous Biblical Hero. I wonder if you can guess who that might be. Michael Forti