Mental Health Awareness Month Creative Submission- Matthew Kluchar

Our series of sharing creative submissions for Mental Health Awareness Month from people across the life of the church includes this art piece sent to us by Rev. Matthew Kluchar. We invite you to ponder and reflect upon Rev. Matthew’s artwork. 

Rev. Matthew offers this reflection on the artwork:

The painting I submitted came out of a counseling session. I’ve had depression for as long as Ican remember. Although it has never been bad enough to control my life, it does weigh me down at times. Through counseling and medication, I have been able to manage it. I told my counselor that rain tends to make it worse, and she encouraged me to paint what I feel. This painting was a result of that prompting. Even though on the outside I have every reason to not be depressed-loving wife, wonderful kids, fulfilling ministry, etc.-much of my life is lived with an underlying feeling of being alone. I have never held back in sharing this from the pulpit because it helps others who may also be struggling to know that even pastors aren’t immune. My faith grounds me. It gives me hope that tomorrow can be a better day. God shows me that my life is about more than my depression. It is a way to help make the world around me a better place. My depression doesn’t have to define me or direct my life. If I do what God wants me to do despite how I feel, I am always blessed. Without my anchor in Christ, my life would truly be empty. I know that I am never alone, even though I feel that way sometimes. It breaks my heart to read about pastors who suffer quietly because the church has perpetuated the false narrative that mental health problems are a sign of spiritual weakness; just read more, pray more, worship more, etc. Admitting you need help is a strength, not a weakness.