I Just Hold The Pen
If you’re reading this, you’ve lived through half of 2020, a pandemic, global unrest, and an uncertain future.
Many of us have never been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. Our bouts with it have been limited and surface level under extremely stressful circumstances.
It’s no wonder that a pandemic has leveled the playing field. Statistics now show that one- third of Americans are showing signs of clinical anxiety and depression at an alarming rate.[1]
Isolation.
Fear of the unknown . . . the future and unseen dangers.
Physical and political unrest.
No wonder anxiety is at an all-time high!
What can be done?
The Hebrew phrase tikkun olam translates to “repair of the world.” In today’s age, it seems more than ever our world is in great need of repair! Jewish people believe that performing mitzvot (good deeds, commandments, etc.) helps achieve this desired tikkun olam.
It’s 2 AM and Instagram account ijustholdthepen is checking her messages. Another struggling teen reaches out to this “insta-mom” (motherhood figure) about their deep depression. Joanna uses her love for words and poetry to connect with the hurting.
When she first began this account a few years ago, it was to satisfy her need for a creative outlet. An anonymous poetry account seemed like a good place to help with her own struggles with depression and a lack of personal purpose in life.
What Joanna didn’t know was that the words which flowed from her broken pen would touch hearts. Others would use her words to help themselves express what they were feeling . . . and this would bring about healing.
Now Joanna’s account has blossomed into a beautiful ministry of being His hands and feet through the internet. With over 2,400 Instagram followers and almost 1,000 posts later, Joanna writes:
“One of the greatest blessings is how it’s changed me. It has forced me to see people, to truly see them . . . to see myself and others as a human made in the image of God. It has given me the ability to exercise and grow my gift of mercy and compassion and God has used it in reaching young people from around the world.”
What began as an anonymous poetry account has motivated this dear friend of mine to expand her knowledge of mental health issues. It has led her to the path of fighting for the lives of those who hang on by a thread.
There are parents out there who don’t know who to thank. They don’t know that it was Joanna who sat with their suicidal teen through the night to make sure they saw another sun rise.
She has become a safe place for questions and disappointments.
She mourns with those who mourn.
Birthdays are a little sweeter to Joanna when she knows what a struggle it was to make it around the sun another year. She says she would not trade the sleepless nights of helping those who call her “insta-mom” for the world. The very depression that drove her to begin the account in the first place has dissipated into a drive and purpose in helping others lift themselves out of isolation and mental torment.
I’m so glad Joanna picked up the pen. Tikkun olam.
Here are some of her penned words:
“promise me
that you will
oppose hatred
in all forms
even the
hatred that
creeps up when
you look in the
mirror
especially that
hatred”
- ijustholdthepen
So much of depression and anxiety can be overcome with the right support. And sometimes those supportive arms may come from an unexpected place.
What if God wanted to use your brokenness to heal others? Would you let Him?
What gifts and creative ability has God given you that He might transform into a life preserver for someone else?
Maybe it begins with picking up a pen.
Written by Kori, LIFE Staff