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This is the first time I have created a blog out & about, and the first not using my tablet computer at my apartment! I am so grateful that I can blog WHEREVER and cut & paste it into my blog! 

My mental health seems to be paramount in my life these days…I want to share something very personal with you…I have been challenged by suicidal thoughts and feelings off & on this year. And it still evades me and my friends and family as to how and why this condition overwhelms me! 

I could be full of self-condemnation and regret over losing my sense of peace, but I have decided that if God doesn’t judge me, I need not judge myself. This suicidal ideation (SI) is such a slippery phase of my consciousness. The most understandably symptomatic I get happens when I have large gaps in my daily schedule! Is it really THAT SIMPLE that I just don’t have enough to do? 

This was one of the reasons why I was extremely desirous of getting this blog up & running! Writing here is a great way to invest time and effort doing something productive! I thank God every day for having this blog to write. 

But now that I have realized how not being busy enough is one of my biggest setbacks, I have the opportunity to head my SI off at the pass and just work on staying busier. 

I have been blessed by singing my heart out with our Catholic Gospel choir at All Saints…THIS is one of my favorite activities! The loving Spirit of this wonderful group of people rises above all obstacles, as we enthusiastically sing God’s praises. Our choir travels all over the nearby communities AND THE WORLD! In past years the choir has gone to Paris, Rome and Uganda! “Gospel music in a CATHOLIC church?” Par for the course at this Black Catholic church—All Saints!

I am not merely in this great choir, I have also become a member of the Knights of Peter Claver, which is the Black Catholic answer to the Knights of Columbus. I feel a special privilege being that I am a white man in this predominantly Black service organization! But I feel valued as a member of this devoted group of Black men. 

Also I am a member of All Saints’ Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This is an international organization that specializes in serving the poor and disadvantaged folks all over the world. At All Saints, our specialty has been to distribute vouchers to local families for items such as beds and refrigerators, and clothes and more. But this volunteer opportunity is not meeting regularly any more. I miss being involved in the distribution of these crucial vouchers that have assisted so many families in the Central City of Milwaukee, where All Saints is located. 

Sometimes it just takes a little mental effort to realize that I HAVE PLENTY IF OUTLETS FOR SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVITY! And I didn’t even mention my weekly meetings with the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Connections group that meets at 10 am most every Saturday morning! This is a lively group of peers that shares strength and hope between members who are challenged with mental illness diagnoses. 

Wow! I REALLY DO have a ton of activities to keep me busy! I guess it just took me writing here to see how much really is going on in my life!! Thank You God for bringing this together in my blog today!!