Happy almost-Christmas!

It’s finally starting to feel like winter here in New York state, and this Advent has been very meaningful for me so far - lots of opportunities to serve and worship, which is the whole point, after all!

Instead of telling you all what I want this year, I thought I’d borrow a page from numerous columnists and share my list for other people.

1) For the Texas Rangers: a good pitcher to replace Cliff Lee (perhaps Zack Greinke?).

2) For Josh Hamilton: another year of sobriety and an injury-free season. (Another MVP award and trip to the World Series wouldn’t hurt, either!)

3) For the Baltimore Ravens: a win over the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.

4) For the cast of “Community”: better ratings and some love from the awards shows (seriously, Emmys and Golden Globes???).

5) For everyone who’s unemployed: the chance to work again.

6) For everyone in the military who’s deployed, and their families: the chance to be together again.

7)  For everyone dealing with mental illness, or trying to help someone who is: the resources they need to do so.

Wishing you “joy, unspeakable joy,” peace and goodwill this season!

(Postage stamp photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.)

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, who won the 2010 World Series over the Texas Rangers, 4 games to 1.

Even though I’m more of an American League fan, I think they deserved it - especially after the way Tim Lincecum pitched in Game 5, doing what the New York Yankees couldn’t and striking out Josh Hamilton!

I wound up enjoying this series even more than I expected because of all the great personalities on both teams. Beforehand, the only players I knew were Lincecum, Hamilton, Cliff Lee and Aubrey Huff (because he used to be an Oriole), but for the past week I’ve been Googling Brian Wilson, C.J. Wilson, Ian Kinsler, Jeff Francoeur and Travis Ishikawa, among others - and I’ll definitely be looking for their names in the sports pages.

In fact, this series got me to love and enjoy baseball again in a way I haven’t since I was in middle and high school, when the Orioles were in their mid-to-late-’90s prime.

Maybe it was the Giants’ orange-and-black uniforms. Maybe it was “The Beard” and the orange spikes. Maybe it was realizing how young so many of the players are and feeling like my generation has finally arrived. Or maybe it was the culture clash between laid-back, anything-goes San Francisco and patriotic, law-and-order Texas.

Whatever it was, it was great fun (and I’m sorry more people didn’t take advantage of it, as evidenced by the pitiful ratings).

Here’s to another great run in 2011 - and now, back to football season!

It’s a Texas/San Francisco World Series!!!!!!

And, probably unlike most sports prognosticators, I predicted that to happen

Before I go out to stock up on ginger ale for the first game on Wednesday (Tim Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee? Yes, please!), I must share a very thoughtful piece by George Vecsey in the New York Times about (yes, you guessed it) Josh Hamilton.

Vecsey compares Hamilton to Mickey Mantle, another great baseball player beset by addictions, but one who didn’t enjoy the help and support that Hamilton has received:

That Hamilton became the most valuable player in the Rangers’ American League Championship Series victory against the Yankees is a tribute to him, but also to the forces he allowed into his life. He came along in an age not only of vast salaries and crack cocaine and steroids and electronic blather but also in a time when addiction treatment has been integrated into organized sport.

Religion has always been around the clubhouse, but now it was intertwined with the techniques of rehabilitation, for those who wanted it. The Tampa Bay organization and Major League Baseball, to their credit, kept sending Hamilton to programs until it took, day by day.

Powerless Mickey Mantle was allowed to pursue the traditional vices — alcohol, promiscuity — by the code of the time.

Hamilton, who, like me, is a devout Christian, has given God a lot of the credit for his recovery.
But his life reminds me that the Christian life is not something lived alone. Instead, it has to be done in community - by getting connected to others who challenge us, hold us accountable and even celebrate with us.
Of course, Hamilton has gotten lots of love from non-Christians as well, including some of his teammates, and that shouldn’t be discounted at all, but appreciated.

All in all, it should be a great series - and I’ll be happy and grateful no matter who wins.

(Photo of Tim Lincecum by UCinternational from Wikimedia Commons, because I like to spread the love around.)

I’m coming to you on this fine Friday afternoon live from my friendly neighborhood Starbucks, as a wind storm seems to have knocked out electricity at my apartment, hopefully only temporarily. It’s good to have some time to blog, though, because there’s been a lot in the news lately that’s been on my mind.

First, remember the New York City psychiatrist who was killed in her office two years ago, allegedly by her colleague’s former patient? Well, his trial got under way this week. He’s planning an insanity defense, but prosecutors say that even though he suffered from schizophrenia, he still knew what he was doing was wrong. It’ll be interesting to see the ultimate verdict and what affect it may have on similar cases - and on how the law treats people with severe mental illness.

Second, there’s been a whole spate of stories in the past few months about tragic suicides of teens and young adults who were bullied and/or harassed by classmates. Many were targeted because of their sexual orientation (whether real or perceived), and others apparently just because kids are horribly cruel sometimes.
Regardless of your opinions (religious, political or otherwise) on homosexuality and gay rights, I hope we can all agree that any kind of bullying is wrong and should never be tolerated.
If any bullies out there happen to be reading this, I urge you to knock it off and grow up. Try remembering that little thing called the Golden Rule.
And if any kids out there who are being bullied are reading this, I encourage you to hang in there and not lose hope. I got picked on all the time growing up, for everything from my curly hair to my religious beliefs, and it sucked - but I got through it and persevered. As an adult, I’ve learned to embrace my innate nerdiness, even though some of my Abercrombie-wearing, Volvo-driving, lacrosse-playing classmates didn’t appreciate it at the time. (In fact, some of the nicest people I knew were lacrosse players, and some of the meanest ones I knew weren’t.) Trust me: Life does get better. (I went to my 10-year high school reunion last year and was pleased to see how people - including me - had matured and were reaching out to people we shunned back in the ’90s.)

Granted, technology is playing a bigger role in bullying these days. It’s quite a change from when I was in school, back in the Dark Ages, when e-mail and AOL Instant Messenger were still novelties and almost no one had cell phones. But, it’s still no excuse for not showing basic civility and human decency to each other, whether on Facebook or face-to-face in the school hallway.

Third, the Major League Baseball league playoffs start tonight, and I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers, who I’m rooting for to beat the Evil Empire (aka the Yankees). Being a lifelong Orioles fan, I’ve never quite forgiven the Bronx Bombers for beating us in the 1996 ALCS, with a little help from an obnoxious teenage fan, so I’m rooting for the underdog Rangers, as well as the Giants on the National League side (just because Tim Lincecum makes me smile). Plus, you’ve got to love a team that shows such wonderful grace toward Hamilton by taking a special step to include him in the celebration.

Hmm … grace, inclusion and putting someone else’s needs and feelings ahead of your own.
There’s a lesson bullies could stand to learn - along with the rest of us.

(Photo of Josh Hamilton by Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons)

It’s almost September, and with preseason football under way and the World Series only a couple months off, I’m looking forward to fall.

I love watching sports - which is kind of ironic, seeing as I’m one of the most unathletic, uncoordinated people on the planet.

I guess I like to live vicariously through my favorite athletes, marveling at what their bodies are capable of and enjoying the rush that comes from cheering a touchdown, home run, hat trick or gold medal (or eight gold medals).

However, as any athlete will tell you, physical ability is just one part of being successful. The mental component of sports can’t be overlooked, and athletes who can focus, handle the pressure and show toughness tend to do very well.

So, what happens when an athlete starts feeling anxious or depressed? He (or she) can struggle when it’s time to compete, even to the point of needing time off.

Sports Illustrated reports that last year,

… five major leaguers were placed on the disabled list for emotional disorders—the first “mental DLs” since [Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack] Greinke missed most of the ‘06 season. It was the largest total for any single season in baseball history and one more than the number for all other seasons in this decade combined.

That comes as Major League Baseball is doing more to help players with mental illnesses - and, I think, as men in general are being more open about their mental health.

Typically, women have disproportionately suffered much more than men in this area. And when we hear about a male athlete who’s overcome a problem, it’s frequently drug or alcohol addiction, as was the case with one of my favorite baseball players, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.

But we’ve thankfully come a long way since the 1970s, when politician Thomas Eagleton was removed as George McGovern’s vice presidential running mate after it was revealed that he had undergone shock therapy treatments for depression.

Today, male celebrities such as actor Zach Braff go public with their bouts with depression and still have successful careers.
And, in growing numbers, so do athletes (including one of my favorite swimmers, Ian Crocker).

I hope the culture - within the world of sports and outside of it - continues to change so men who need help can get it, and not let mental illness keep them from flourishing - and sharing their talents with the rest of us.

Happy August!

I’m heading home tomorrow for my summer vacation, the biggest part of which will be seeing my youngest cousin get married.
It should be a great time of reconnecting with family and relaxing, and doing some things I love to do - namely watch baseball (not the Orioles, though, although I am cautiously optimistic that Buck Showalter can start to turn things around).

Vacations can be a great way to relieve some stress - but they can also make us feel even more stressed when we get home.
I recommend you keep your vacation simple: Don’t try to do too much or spend too much, and don’t expect more from a vacation that it can provide.
It’s important to take time to rest throughout the year, too - whether keeping a religious Sabbath, or just learning to say no to other people who want to control your schedule.

Enjoy what’s left of the summer, and I’ll see you when I return (to go to another wedding, for two of my good friends)!

I’ve been thinking a lot in the past year about financial issues - not just because of the recession (which is showing inconsistent signs of improving), but because I’ve noticed how finances affect so many areas of our lives: spirituality, physical health, emotional health and relationships, just to name a few.

As someone who, according to some demographers, is part of the Millennial Generation (although others would call me a Gen-Xer), I’ve supposedly never known hardship up until the current economic malaise, since my baby boomer parents made sure I had everything I could possibly want, and that gave me a false sense of entitlement that carries over into the classroom and the workplace.

(That sound you just heard was my parents, professors and bosses laughing hysterically.)

The reality, of course, is very different. My parents gave me a lot of wonderful gifts and opportunities - but they also instilled a good Protestant work ethic and taught me that the world does not owe me anything.

Those lessons have served me well. But the recession has also taught me that working hard isn’t enough. You also have to work smart and take control of your money and your career in order to thrive and weather whatever storm comes along. (I hope other people in my age group are learning this, seeing as we’re increasingly being laid off or unable to find jobs while trying to pay back huge student loans.)

To alleviate some of the stress that finances can bring, I’ve started following the advice of Dave Ramsey, the Christian personal-finance guru, radio host and author, although plenty of secular experts have similar plans - and it’s really just “common sense for your dollars and cents,” as he likes to say. (The title of this post is another one of his Southern-fried pearls of wisdom.)

In fact, I like Dave so much that I wrote an article last year about churches that teach his concepts.

No matter what happens on Wall Street, getting control of your money and “telling it where to go, instead of wondering where it went” is a must for everyone. And it may be even more important for people with mental illnesses and learning disabilities, such as bipolar disorder and ADD/ADHD, since those conditions often express themselves in irresponsible financial behavior. And, people with very severe illnesses may not be able to work much or may face large medical costs, so learning how to live on a tight budget is even more critical.

So, as we get ready to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, think about how you can work toward financial independence - and financial health and peace. It may not make economists (who want us to spend and borrow more) happy, but you’ll be better off.

As you’ve probably guessed, I love to read. (In fact, I get paid to do it.)

And summer is traditionally a time when people make an effort to read more, either for school assignments or just for pleasure.

Lately, I’ve been reading mostly nonfiction, particularly books pertaining to religion in America (both academic-type books and more personal, memoir-type books).

If you’re interested in this subject, these are the ones I really liked:

• “Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church” by Michael Horton. My church did a Lenten series on this book, but I just got around to reading it now, and I love Horton’s take-no-prisoners style. He argues that modern American Christians (whether evangelical or liberal, Catholic or Protestant, or any other label you want to use) are abandoning the gospel message for something wishy-washy, neo-Pelagian and neo-Gnostic (if you don’t know what that means, look it up) that “turns the good news into good advice” and actually hurts people. You may or may not agree, but it was a good course corrective for me, and maybe it will be for you. I also like Horton because, unlike a lot of Christian authors/pastors I’m familiar with, he actually likes journalists and journalism. (What a concept!)
• “Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace” by Cathleen Falsani. I was fortunate enough to meet Falsani (like me, a Medill grad) at the Festival of Faith and Writing two years ago, and her honesty, personality and sense of humor really shine through in this book, some of it based on her experiences covering religion for the Chicago Sun-Times. No matter where she travels or who she meets, she manages to see grace and encourages readers to look for it, too.
•  “Mormon America: The Power and the Promise” by Richard Ostling and Joan K. Ostling. Richard Ostling (yet another Medill grad!) is one of the greatest religion journalists ever, in my opinion, and this book, which he wrote with his wife, Joan, shows why. If you’re looking for some kind of screed on why Mormons aren’t really Christians, this is not the book for you. But if you want to objectively learn more about a uniquely American religion, its history and how it influences culture and politics (especially as Mitt Romney might be gearing up for another presidential run next year), you’ll enjoy this. I found it a little dull in the beginning, but as I got more into it, I was fascinated.

On my list for the rest of the summer is Stephen Prothero’s latest, “God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World - And Why Their Differences Matter.” I’m especially giddy after reading an excerpt in the Christian Science Monitor and seeing him on “The Colbert Report.”

What’s on your summer reading list?

Hey, readers!

Yes, I am still alive. It’s just that some technical difficulties have kept me from posting for the past … six months (oy!).

But, they seem to be resolved, so I’m back!

And, yet again, I promise to revamp this site, someday.

For now, though, allow me to catch up on some important things from the first half of 2010:

• Belated congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on their Stanley Cup win! I got to meet the team president, John McDonough, for my Sports and Society class at Medill (taught by the awesome Lester Munson), and I was so impressed I became a fan. I’m also glad Duncan Keith knows some good dentists.
• Speaking of hockey, goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres won my heart with his performance on Team USA at the Vancouver Olympics. Silver’s nothing to be ashamed of!
• Like many longtime “Lost” fans, I was sad to see the show end - but unlike some, I actually enjoyed the finale and thought it was a fitting wrap-up. My esteemed former Times Herald-Record colleague Germain Lussier agrees.
• Speaking of my favorite TV shows, I tried out for “Jeopardy!” in New York City back in April. It was quite fun. The last (and first) time I tried out was 10 years ago for the college tournament. If I don’t make it on this time, I hope I don’t have to wait another 10 years.
• RIP, Manute Bol, a great athlete, and even more importantly, a great humanitarian (and Christian!). He truly lived out Luke 12:48:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

That’s all she wrote for now - well, besides the fact that my beloved Orioles are causing me all kinds of stress and anxiety with their suck-tastic season (this is a mental-health blog, after all!). As much as I hate to say it, my money’s on the Nationals this weekend.

Stay tuned - I’ve got lots to say, and lots of time.

My friends over at UrbanFaith.com have published a Christmas article I wrote about the children’s book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and what the church can learn from those awful Herdman kids.

Check it out, and if you’ve found my Web site through that story, please leave a comment and let me know.

Merry Christmas, and in the words of Gladys Herdman,

“Hey! Unto you a child is born!”