Preaching at Harvest Thanksgiving at St Michael’s Church, Myddfai, Carmarthenshire, Canon Mark Soady addressed the question of depression and suicide in today’s farming community.
St Michael’s Church, Myddfai
Speaking at the Church near the Prince of Wales’ Welsh Residence of Llwynywermod, Fr Mark said:
As we gather in this ancient church to give thanks for the Harvest, I am aware that some of you may not be feeling that thankful.
The Farm Safety Foundation’s Report published earlier this year highlighted the fact that every week one farmer in the UK takes his life. I remember from my days as a Psychiatric Nurse in Dyfed in the 1980s how rural isolation could lead to depression, alcoholism and drug addiction.
The report noted “Whilst UK farmers are renowned for the attention they give to their livestock, crops and machinery, it appears they do not have such a good track record when it comes to taking care of themselves and their own wellbeing.” This occupation is dominated by men. We traditionally are less able to admit to our poor mental health and are less able to talk to others about the problem; add to this the often isolated working of farmers.
With the uncertainity of Brexit and the extremes of weather we have had this year there has been plenty for farmers to worry about. Farmers tell me that they have already used up their winter stock of silage to feed their animals through the summer drought, and do not know how their animals will be fed through the winter months.
So how does that fit in with our Lord’s instruction in the Gospel of Matthew.
The authorised version of St Matthew’s Gospel states,” Take no thought for tomorrow”. Earlier translations have it as “Do not be full of care”. The Bible Society’s Testament Newydd uses the Welsh word “Pryder” which could be translated in to English as “Anxious” or “worry”.
In tonight’s Old Testament reading we hear that as a result of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s Dream, Pharaoh did plan for the forthcoming famine. He rightly had a ‘care’ for the future! We would be very critical of our rulers today if they did not plan as pharaoh did. So we need to draw a contrast between having a ‘care’ for tomorrow, planning for tomorrow if you like; and being anxious about tomorrow.
Fr Mark with a bale of hay
Jesus tells us in the Gospel if God gave us life surely we can and must trust him to give us the things that sustain life.
Insightfully, Jesus also reminds us that far from ‘being anxious’ achieving something positive, it can actually make us ‘ill with worry’.
You will not be surprised to hear me say that Jesus lived what he taught. Unlike the rest of us he did know what the future brought. In his case it brought a most terrible death on a cross. If we knew that was to befall us, I am not sure we would come across as cheerful as Christ does in the Gospels.
So friends however, bad things seem let us remember that Christ is with us – and God will provide. That is what we need to be most Thankful for this Harvestide.
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