In one town in recent travels, we saw a disturbing sight while sitting at an outdoor cafe. We had a party of about 14 people.
While eating, a man approached who was either mentally unbalanced or high on something, or both. There was a low metal fence between us and him, and he stood across from one of the tables and just stared at us. His pants were sunk too low, to put it kindly. Eventually I approached him with a gift card to a restaurant and said, “Could you use this?” He answered, I’m afraid of that,” but accepted it.
My daughter says that, working with homeless ministries, they don’t necessarily try to converse with such people, but would definitely give them food or clothes, etc., if wanted.
People like this used to be “institutionalized”, sometimes perhaps against their will. What are people’s thoughts on how to help them, if they can be helped?
I told this story to a mental health professional, and he surmised that the man suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Imagine being afraid to ask people for what you need! Pray for the mentally ill!
5/24/2019:
[I recommend reading] the [book] “The Hiding Place”, by and about Corrie ten Boom. After WWII, she was able to forgive a Nazi officer (face to face) who had mistreated her in a concentration camp. That was through God’s grace, because her human emotions rebelled against forgiving him. But God gave her the power to forgive the man. (Apparently he was repentant as well, though it’s not clear in the story.)
5/29/2019
I read somewhere, something to the effect that believing one cannot be forgiven by God or others, or being unable to forgive, can be a big factor in mental illness. Makes sense; I think I would go mad if I believed I [couldn’t] be forgiven.
Spiritually speaking, when we receive the grace of forgiveness from God, we won’t be so tied to those people who won’t forgive us, seeking their approval. [And, when we forgive, we are freed from the same unhealthy “attachments”.]
[A book by a “forgiveness therapist:]
The Forgiving Life
Besides the Facebook posts, here is an article about forgiveness, which mentions forgiveness “expert” Everett Worthington:
Setting Captives Free: Forgiveness and Freedom
clarakatalin 
Thoughts on Independence Day, 2022
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people chosen as his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“…for what has been achieved we give you thanks, for the work that still remains we ask your help…” (from an Independence Day prayer)
For blood that’s been shed,
For many prayers said,
For all the tears cried,
Lord, be by our side.
Forgive all that’s wrong;
Lord, help us be strong.
Celebrate what’s good;
Increase brotherhood.
We give You our past;
Only heaven will last.
Go forward again,
Let all divisions mend.
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