Last week I attended GRF Sara Schlemm’s talk about Melancholy. Sara began by relating to us the meaning and history of melancholy: more than just an emotionally sad state, melancholy has deeper roots in the psyche and physical body. It’s more of an outlook or disposition towards life. Melancholy was associated in the past with one of the four humors that were held in balance in the body: black bile. It was held that when you had an imbalance of black bile, you became melancholic. Melancholy was associated with the season of autumn, associated with the idea of a bleak outlook.

Personally, I struggle to see the point or use of melancholy. At this point in my life, I’m a pretty joyful guy. God has given me so much love, grace, and hope, so  the idea of moping around or being skeptical about life doesn’t make sense to me. When I get caught up with depressing circumstances and fall into that trend, I just remember the truth of who I am and who God is, and try to walk in light of it. Based on this, I think that life has the potential to be abundantly joyful for everyone. When I see a melancholic or sad person, I immediately think: “How can I fix this situation? How can I help this person cheer up?” However, I need to explore the idea that melancholy may not be the antithesis of joy. In fact, I suspect that melancholy can be used to strengthen the root of joy. I wonder how much my view of melancholy is shaped by current culture, which sees it as something that holds people back from enjoying life fully and reaching their full potential. In the past, however, melancholy was viewed as more than doom and gloom. Melancholy was associated with creative genius and a deeply contemplative mind. Ancient texts from eastern culture assert the importance of melancholy (held in balance with joy) as well. The third chapter of Solomon’s contemplative book Ecclesiastes starts like this:

Perhaps melancholy has a place, even an essential place, in a healthy, full life.