Welcome to 7001strong.

My name is Beth. I’m a pastor. I worked for eight years in two churches. I fell into a depression when I was 36 years

old. It turned into bipolar disorder. Things got really bad for me.

This is me. I don’t look happy or glamorous, but I’m better than I used to be.

Yes, yes it’s a selfie while I’m in the driver’s seat. I am stuck in traffic at a full stop. So I started examining my

lipstick.

But I remember how bad it was. Depression. I remember wanting to die and

thinking about that. My cats saved me. I know that sounds dumb to some people, but they’re why I stayed on this planet.

My cats and a well-time Pirate

Party.OK. It took a lot of work as well as the

cats and Pirate Party.

I had a good friend, a

believer, who couldn’t stand

the pain. I miss him. Part of this 7001 project is to help you endure until the depression

or despair pass.

I also believe that faith communities need to

provide better pastoral care.My attitude toward suicide is stay alive.

I think that professionally clergy need to demonstrate care and inclusivity toward all people.

My passion certainly derives from personal and professional experiences about the need for belonging.

I’m with my Mom when she was alive.

She had Alzheimer’s for a long time. My Dad took great care of her.I miss her.

I can’t fix you. I can’t make you feel better. I can’t even make you want to feel better.

I can endure with you. We can endure with you because 7001 is created by folks who want to show their concern. Many who

contributed to this website know their own journeys and jagged places due to despair, despondency, and grief.

Some times the faith thing doesn’t work when you’re stuck on the couch due to

depression or disability.Guilt is not of God. I think Bono said that.

The end of my marriage started my depression. I fell in love nine years later. He

didn’t want me. It was painful.But I loved him. I loved somebody new.

Rejection is painful. No joke. I never thought

that I could feel feelings like that

again.It wasn’t fun, but it was a deep blessing.

I have a chronic illness. I’m not who I was before I got bipolar and I still mourn the self that I lost.

BipolarBeth struggles more, but I understand valor. Normal, everyday people live beyond the worst that

ever happened and they live with grace and compassion.

People learn to make something beautiful

out of their fragmented selves.I know despair. I deal with chronic illness. I also know

possibilities. I feel like I’m called to live into advocacy for belonging as well as clear-eyed hope. (Charles Poole wrote

clear-eyed hope. He knew depression too.)