Rev Matt iBlog

I want to begin with this blog by saying thank you for your lovely and supportive comments. It means so much that people care and love me. Thank you for holding me and Helen in your prayers. Hearing people say ‘I’m only a call away’ has been a life changer.  I have shared my blog after having been diagnosed with depression as a way to help others who may find themselves in a similar situation. Mental health needs to be talked about rather than seen as a stigma. Let’s reach out to one another.  It is true to say that we all feel a little unsure at times. Some of our thoughts can be filled with doubt. I felt inadequate and this produced anxiety about my ministry, relationships, and ability to handle certain situations. There were times when I felt lonely and unloved. I was worried about failing and losing the people I loved. To help with this I am talking more to Helen, family, and friends, receiving counselling, and keeping a journal.  I know we should live in th...

I haven't updated my blog for a long time.  I want to share something with you. Two weeks ago my GP diagnosed me with depression.  We can’t control how we feel and the thoughts we get. The average person will typically have more than 6,000 thoughts in a single day, and the brain can process these thoughts. However, I wasn’t able to think straight because of certain things that had happened and I wasn’t in control of it. This goes back to Autumn’s Synod in the London District. I put my name down to attend the Methodist Conference as a presbyter. The London District had two spaces for Presbyters and three applied. I came third and the other two Presbyters were chosen fairly. Some reading this might think this is trivial and it’s only a conference but don’t forget we can’t control our thoughts because we average about 3000 thoughts per hour or 50 per minute, just under one per second.  I have taken this badly. I struggle with ministers who have attended the Methodist Confere...