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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Listen to the Whispers and You’ll Hear the Pain

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

Mental illness is epidemic in the world, but the church acts as if we're somehow immune. Why? We're not immune to cancer, thyroid trouble, & gunshot wounds. via @chautonahavig

When I first met Chris Morris at a convention, he struck me as a kind, funny guy with a passion for people.  The more I’ve gotten to know him online, the greater this passion has shown. So, when I learned that he struggles with mental illness, as so many Christians do, I was shocked.

You’d never know it unless you talked to him.  About it.

So when I learned he was assembling a collection of true stories by people suffering from mental illness and the impact the church has had on these people, I knew I wanted to read it.  Chris has insight that many don’t. He has the compassion to speak boldly for those who need a voice, while lovingly to those who need to understand.

I also wanted my eldest daughter to read it.  

As the wife of a husband afflicted by mental illness, I knew she would have a more educated opinion of what Whispers in the Pews shares and the helpfulness quotient contained within.  So, I asked her to read it.  She devoured it.  I saw her sharing quotes on Facebook and Instagram.

When it came time to write this review, instead of writing it myself, I asked her to do it.  If you know Challice from her Sodbuster Living blog or YouTube channel, this is her take on Whispers in the Pews.

Whispers in the Pews (mental illness)

Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Listen to the Whispers and You’ll Hear the Pain

In Challice’s words:

In Whispers in the Pews, Chris Morris collects the voices of several individuals who have gone through some kind of mental illness and explores how the church responded to them.

Depression comes in various forms, from PTSD, to PPD, to clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and much more. For centuries, the church has been considered a haven; yet for many, dealing with these mental illnesses is a secret that must not be spoken of.

Chris Morris endeavors to enlighten the church by using the stories of several individuals and their varying circumstances and giving them a voice that will help the church as a whole, know how to offer Biblical help and support.

One of the best lines in this book that I think really brings home the idea of separating illness with spiritual weakness says,

I can’t treat my soul with medication. That’s Jesus’s work. But I can treat my body with it, and thankfully, that makes a difference for me.”

Many within the church take the Pharisaical approach of nailing down Scripture while forgetting the person who needs the gentleness and compassion that Jesus gave many of the sick.

These essays from various voices are not always the easiest to read. You will hear raw, but clean, details of verbal abuse, rape, PTSD, from the spouses’ perspectives, and more. Some are straightforward in their writing, while others have found a way to share beauty in the ashes.

Chris Morris even included an experience he had when he admitted himself into a mental hospital.

Whispers in the Pews is one book that I would hand out to anyone. I want the word to get out, and I want there to be a change. This isn’t just happening in the church, but everywhere. People wear a mask of perfection. The church should be where we can be raw and real and still be welcomed as members of Christ’s body! That is what Chris Morris tried to do when he assembled the stories in Whispers in the Pews.

As a spouse of someone who has dealt with severe clinical depression, it was encouraging to read that we are not alone and have something tangible to wave in the air and say, “YES! People, this is what I’ve been trying to say!”

I wept with some of the writers, as one living in a similar situation and knowing what they have gone through and remembering some of our own battles. But I think this book is not just to enlighten others and help the church realize where it needs to change. It’s for those of us who feel alone at times as we battle this. We may not have depression ourselves, but it still affects our families. Reading this book was like getting a cup of coffee with a friend and being able to say, “me, too.”

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Comments

  1. Kathy Anderson says

    October 18, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    Thank you for sharing your very personal reaction to reading this book. I highlighted the same saying in my book as you mentioned in your blog post.
    When I self admitted myself to a mental hospital because of my suicidal thoughts I quickly found out who in my sphere of relationships within my church group would support me and who would tragically question my faith and salvation experience. Unfortunately, so many people who shared their stories in this book had the same experience and like you I was able to draw strength from knowing I wasn’t the only one who had dealt with those feelings.

    Reply
  2. Deb Jones says

    October 18, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    I bought it on Chalice’s recommendation. I plan to read it tonight then pass on the recommendation. Thank you. This is what many of my friends with mental illness need the church to know.

    Reply
  3. Amelia says

    October 18, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    Thanks for the review!

    Reply
  4. Andrea Stoeckel says

    October 18, 2019 at 10:02 am

    I think I first heard about this book from Challice and had marked it on a TBR list and shared it with my friend Steve Austin, who also writes, speaks and blogs about these issues

    Reply
  5. Linda Palmer says

    October 18, 2019 at 9:49 am

    This book sounds great. I have family and friends with mental Illness. And there’s been too much confusion about it. I feel for them.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

 I fell in love with Nancy’s writing with The Shell Collector. Imagine my joy when I discovered she has a SEQUEL! Eeep! Listen in and discover which characters you’ll find in To Light the Way Forward and what’s coming next for one of America’s favorite authors!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

It’s been three years since Nancy and I had a chance to talk, and in that time, she’s been BUSY.  So in addition to falling in love with her character, Tug, and wanting to give him his own story, she’s written a small-town duet (and maybe we talked her into a third?) as well as a romcom duo!  Think we can talk her into a third of that series as well?  Because… SPOILER ALERT… we’re getting a third Shell Collector Series book, too! EEEP!

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle

A novel of overcoming deep loss, taking risks, and learning that life—and love—often surprises you when you least expect it, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector. “Bringing to life characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Nancy Naigle goes straight to the heart with this story of tragedy turned to triumph. A poignant reminder to never give up hope.”—Sheila Roberts, author of The Best Life Book Club Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug. But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild. As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Learn more about Nancy on her WEBSITEand follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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