Grief, anxiety and depression don’t take a holiday at this time of year.
In fact, they can weigh even more heavily, according to the Rev. Bill Van Oss, rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Duluth, which hosted its third annual “Blue Christmas” service on Sunday.
“We want to acknowledge that, for some people, Christmas and the holidays are a difficult time,” Van Oss said. “Not everyone has positive memories of the season.”
He pointed out that many people still are haunted by childhood experiences related to alcoholism, abuse or poverty in their lives.
I’m so glad they’re doing this. I have had a case of the glums because of health issues and not being able to meet seasonal “expectations.” It’s a tough time of year — such disonance between that simple Nativity scene and those “picture-post card” scenes of what a “functional” Christmas celebration looks like thrust upon us.
A friend told me that no other season highlights the “haves” from the “have nots” more profoundly, and not just in terms of material goods. She’s right. Many people haven’t family members with whom to gather or festivities to which they’re invited. It can be a sorely lonely time.