Thursday, September 1, 2016
Article: Off the Rails
A day in the life of Gary Teter, a Texas man with severe bipolar disorder. It's a harrowing story, but the one ray of hope - though it is a small and fragile shimmer - is the work done by the Magnificat Houses, who run the St. Joseph's Clubhouse that provides Mr. Teter with his most important source of stability and support. This powerful essay gives voice to the voiceless: the chronically mentally ill who are so often shamed, ostracized, and forgotten by our society. Please be warned that it's a difficult read, though not without light. And pray for those who have mental illness, and for those who strive to help them hold on to their dignity.
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Thank you for posting this, Karen. I've read through it once, to get the gist of it, and I may have to read it again. Gary is clearly suffering -- a biography of suffering is written on his face -- but there is evidence of resiliency. And he does have a flair for language, even if he gets a bit ornate!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to what you say about these Magnificat Houses; they're doing God's work.