Page 88 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 8

MY AFRIKA

David M. Jones is a
counselor and lecturer at
Africa Nazarene University,
Nairobi, Kenya. He can be
reached at:
dmjones1010@gmail.com

Mental Health, Holistic Wellness and be weary" because His "rod and

the Importance of Self-care. staff comfort" and guide me, and
"nothing can separate me from
His love!" This is my battle cry.”
Today, because of some effort to wield the panga, cut-
work being done on the ting vines and branches which The above is an excerpt from a
veranda, I find myself seat- seem to be purposely impeding personal email I wrote and sent
“ed at our small desk in our my progress, just to make little to my parents not too long ago.
would-be dining room. On my headway to a destination I am As evidenced by what I hear
left, I can look out over the gar- unsure of. from my clients, this is quite a
den past the large and majestic Even now, I realize this is a common experience for many
Yellow Fever tree, and beyond spirit/cloud of depression individuals, especially as we are
the fence line to see two Maasai attempting to create this para- adjusting to this “new normal”
and their small herd of cattle. To lyzing fog around the core of lifestyle due to the C19 pandem-
my right (through the open front my being. Now, in this moment ic. Yes, not only am I a counsel-
door), just past a dozing Rocky and the ones to come, I come or/therapist who treats people
the dog, is another garden view against it in the name of Jesus, for various life issues, often
with a bright blooming orange the name that there is no other involving emotional and mental
Bird of Paradise, putting a punc- name above. In reality, I know health, but I also experience
tuation mark on the beauty of in my heart and mind that God's some challenges of my own.
God’s art work. ever-present light and all-encom-
Although I am so very blessed, passing grace, love, and peace As I also lecture on subjects in
grateful, and privileged to be sit- shines brightly enough to per- the area of Counseling Psychol-
ting in such a place as this along meate my spiritual, mental and ogy, I often remind my students,
with my lovely wife, I find myself physical abode. But I also realize that as humans, we are “fearfully
a bit overwhelmed, stressed, that it's up to me to intentionally and wonderfully made” (Psalm
and stuck; just low, if I am to be increase my capacity to accept 139). But we are human and
honest. At times, it's as if I am and act on these truths. To- with that comes the undeniable
journeying through a dark jungle day, "The joy of the Lord is my fact that no matter who we are,
that requires such a supreme strength" and I will "walk and not or where we come from, life will

88 | Heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika