Mental Health and the Church
YMCA and the Church…what?!
Wait, YMCA…the Church…how do these two things connect? Well, they don’t really, except that I managed to work the song into a music experience that I recently presented to a group of pastors and ministry leaders.
These ministry leaders meet every quarter to discuss business matters of their churches, and they spend the first hour or so of their meeting learning and growing together. The focus of their most recent meeting was mental health and how it specifically relates to leaders in the field of ministry. My friend and colleague, Nichoel Kimmerle, was the keynote speaker, and she asked me to share a little bit about music therapy and provide a music experience for the group.
Music is Powerful
That got me thinking about a song that would:
1) be known by a diverse group of people and
2) trigger specific memories and feelings
After brainstorming with Mark, we both agreed that YMCA was the perfect song to meet the above criteria. If you took a moment to click on the video above, did you experience a change in your body as you listened? Did you sing along, and if so, how did you feel? Did it take you back to a different place and time?
Music is powerful. Playing a classic song like YMCA proved this the moment the group of pastors heard me sing the first words of the song, “young man.” Their demeanors changed, they immediately did the arm motions without being prompted, and the music affected them in a powerful way. When asked what it made them think of, several answers filled the chat box – weddings, dances, celebrations. This one song sent the group down memory lane. Music is powerful.
Music is Personal
Not only is music powerful, but it is personal. Hearing a song tied to an emotional memory can instantly bring me to tears or a to belly laugh, depending on the song. What song does this for you? Mine is I Lift my Hands by Chris Tomlin. Upon hearing the first notes of the piano, I am transported back to 2011, driving to the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, terrified of the days and the weeks ahead. It brings me to tears, but it also fills me with an incredible amount of gratitude.
Music is personal. It brings out emotions that are often buried inside. Music reminds us of those emotions and allows us to experience them again. Can you think of a strong memory that is connected to a song? I’d love to hear it – leave me a message!
Self-Care for Leaders in Ministry
I applaud Nick In’t Hout and Kristen Reitkerk for understanding the need to talk about mental health with pastors and other ministry leaders and for taking action by starting the conversation. Pastors and ministry leaders are in a challenging position, especially now as we navigate this pandemic. Nichoel referred to the group as “emotional first responders,” and I couldn’t agree more. When we are in a place of helping, it feels good, but facing others’ emotional traumas and helping them deal with those traumas can leave us exhausted and burned out. Nichoel talked about the need to step back and find ways to connect with our bodies – to be aware of the things that we love and to be deliberate about planning time for them. Self-care doesn’t happen accidentally; it takes deliberate planning to make it happen.
I was impressed by the responses of the pastors and leaders in the group. They asked great questions and acknowledged the importance of continuing the conversation around mental health and seeking help for themselves in order to help others more effectively. You are not alone. You might feel like you are, but there are always others out there who understand because they’ve been where you are. Hearing the leaders share their mental health challenges encouraged others in the group to speak up. It was liberating, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to share the space with an amazing group of men and women.
I want to hear from you!
What does self-care look like for you? Are there specific things that you need every day or every week in order to feel emotionally and mentally healthy? What happens when you have a day or a week without these things? I want to hear from you! Please record a message or comment below. Tell me about your self-care, especially as we continue to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic.