Dr. Narramore, graduate of Columbia University, New York City, is a nationally known psychologist. He is the director of one of America's largest psychological clinics— The Christian Counseling center in Pasadena, California. EXCUSES TO PUT ON TH E COFFEE POT Q. I have always been more or less active in my church, but particularly so during the last few years. I f things work out as expected ( the vice-president of our ladies’ auxili ary usually succeeds to the presi dency) then I shall be president of the auxiliary in a few months. What I would like to learn from you is what you feel the purpose of a church ladies’ auxiliary should be. In recent years, an outline of a year’s activity would include several banquets, a meeting once a month, a rummage sale, a Lenten Tea, one or two doughnut sales, a Harvest sup per, a fish-and-meat-ball supper, a Christmas party, and a bazaar sand wiched in somewhere. All this is in addition to smaller projects such as weddings, funerals, receptions for various groups, kick-off banquets for this or that drive, etc. In other words, just any kind of a get-togeth er is an excuse to “ put on the coffee pot,” so to speak. There are a few of us who con tend that the ladies, auxiliary does not exist for the purpose of paying the church’s bills. We feel that we should d e v o t e ourselves to such things as Bible study, sending offer ings to headquarters, and helping smaller ventures such as gospel mis sions, youth centers, visiting jails, hospitals, invalids, the needy, and so on. What are your views as to what “ busyness” Christian ladies should be concerned with? A . I was happy to hear from you and to learn of the position of leader ship which the Lord has given you. Now you can exert a real spiritual influence in your group. The problem you speak of is one common to many churches and one that must be honestly faced before
God in order to make wise decisions. There is a plain verse of Scripture which we can use to evaluate every thing we do—and it can be used to gauge the worth of group activities in your church. It is I Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” IN A DEEP NARROW D ITCH Q. I am writing for information on institutions. I would like to know if there is a good Christian institution where a teen-age boy can get help for problems too great to be solved by himself. The problem, if not cor rected, may destroy him. It seems to poison his mind. He feels good until it creeps in .and kills any other thoughts he may have. He would wel come death but is afraid of pain. He would take his own life if it wouldn’t be a sure hell for him. He knows the Lord, but now God seems so far away. He is liked by everyone except himself. He used to be able to be around anyone and feel comfortable, but he has come to the place where he is afraid of people, afraid people will really get to know him. He feels as if he can’t do anything right or good enough. Therefore he doesn’t have anything to talk about to other people, especially other peo ple who are teeriragers as he is. He feels that he needs to escape from life and be in an institution. He can’t really think for himself. He feels as if he is in a deep narrow ditch where he can’t get out. In fact, I feel marked for life. I will welcome any information. I would like to hear from you. A . I do appreciate your frankness. Many adults will think it strange that you, a teen-ager, are in such a disturbed condition at such an early age — that you have such severe
feelings that you are talking about going into an institution, and that you are contemplating destroying yourself. You say that your mind is poisoned and that God seems far away and you can’t think. You seem to be in a narrow ditch and you can’t get out. What you undoubtedly need is out patient care. You should see a Chris tian psychologist or psychiatrist, who has real spiritual understanding. You need to go through a process; you don’t need a lecture. If you were at our clinic in Pasa dena we would first have an intake interview with you to understand more about your problem. Then we would give you psychological tests to determine the nature of your prob lem, the seriousness of it, and the possible causes. Then we would as sign you to one of our psychologists for counseling therapy. Undoubtedly you have had many experiences in l i f e wh i c h have brought this on. Many of them may not be known to you. There are basic emotional needs which must be met in a child’s life if he is to grow up and be emotionally healthy and well. Unless your problem is of a medical nature, your basic emotional needs were probably never met in your life. As you sit with a professionally trained man and discuss these prob lems, they will begin to lose their hold on you and you will eventually think and feel differently. Unless you get help, this disturb ance will undoubtedly get worse. But you can get help now and live a nor mal life. Note: I have a booklet which you may like to send for. It is Booklet No. 76, “When Loved Ones Become 111.” This describes mental illness and shows how it comes about and what we can do to help our loved ones who have a problem like this.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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