Here we are again, back from another trip. This time, instead of seeing mountains and glaciers, we stayed at a beach house by the ocean. And, although I worked most of my regular hours while there, it was nice to hear and see the ocean while I was working. Also, at the end of the working day I was able to get out and enjoy it.
Seeing the ocean is a magical experience for me. Looking at the unending expanse of water, hearing the waves crash to the shore, seeing the tides change, feeling the power of the waves, seeing the shells that are brought in, seeing the grains of sand – to me, it can sometimes overwhelm my senses. If you ask me, seeing the ocean is one of the most powerful ways I sense God and his or her presence. Who else could have created something so infinite and beautiful? But, that is from a personal perspective.
As I looked at the ocean last week, it made me think about how small I feel next to it. The ocean is immense, and it would be easy for lots of things to be lost in it. As I thought about it, I began to think that depression could be described as an ocean in some ways. Like an ocean, depression can loom large and people can be lost in it. Depression is usually also overwhelming. However, the ocean is not all bad, and overcoming depression can be like the power of the waves and the beauty that is part of it.
I may not be the best at analogies here, but what do you think? Would you describe depression as an ocean? Are there bad parts to this analogy? Are there good parts? Whatever your thoughts are here, I hope it gives you another way to think about depression and how it can be treated.