With my background as a preacher's daughter and my southern roots, of course it's going to come out in my comedy," she says. "When I started out, I wasn't making righteous statements like 'I shall be clean.' I didn't know a dirty word.
—Chonda Pierce
Growing up in North Carolina and Tennessee, Pierce's southern-fried-and-sanctified brand of ‘clean’ comedy has clearly reached a critical mass, winning legions of fans who consistently propel her DVD releases into the Gold and Platinum stratosphere, drawing sellout crowds across a wide swath of middle America.—SESAC News
She's Famous and She's Funny!
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But if you’ve never heard of Christian comic Chonda Pierce, you’re in good company. Up here in the Pacific Northwest (U.S.) we do other things—like squishing through muddy rain forests and chewing on crunchy granola. Our local community celebration in August is called "Bumbershoot." In fact around here, it’s rumored that Mark Twain once said, "the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Seattle."
Offstage in the Shadows
Written by e-Mom. Share on Twitter or FB. Subscribe in a Reader
But if you’ve never heard of Christian comic Chonda Pierce, you’re in good company. Up here in the Pacific Northwest (U.S.) we do other things—like squishing through muddy rain forests and chewing on crunchy granola. Our local community celebration in August is called "Bumbershoot." In fact around here, it’s rumored that Mark Twain once said, "the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Seattle."
Offstage in the Shadows
They say depression is anger turned inward… that just made me mad!—Chonda Pierce
Last month, I was introduced to this delightful southern lady through her poignant book, Laughing in the Dark (2001, Howard Books). Concerned about the mental health of a dear friend’s daughter, I bought this book on the recommendation of a blogging sister. I was curious to know what a comedian might have to say about her experience with clinical depression.With gut-wrenching candor, Chonda shares her experience of pain and confusion based in several repressed girlhood traumas. (Emotional "housecleaning" is a common scenario for women in perimenopause.) She’s a seasoned professional and she weaves her stories with her trademark humor. However, the real value of this book goes far beyond Chonda’s personal anecdotes.
From Comedy to Counsel
In a very disarming way, the comedian also dispenses solid advice about finding appropriate medical care, biblical counsel, prayer, and friendship support. Laughing in the Dark is an excellent resource. It's the perfect book to give to a girlfriend who suspects she might be suffering from this debilitating mental illness, but is unsure about how to get a diagnosis and proper treatment.
Chonda also reminds her readers that those who suffer from depression often feel shame and humiliation—and a lack of faith. Armed with a book like this, I’m thankful that I can offer someone some help and hope, and even a healthy dose of laughter. I highly recommend it.
Related
1. Spiritual Growth: Anger & Forgiveness by Chrysalis
2. For a boatload of good reads, visit Jennifer’s meme "What's On Your Nightstand?" at
Five Minutes for Books the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Up Next—Christians & Alternative Medicine
From Comedy to Counsel
In a very disarming way, the comedian also dispenses solid advice about finding appropriate medical care, biblical counsel, prayer, and friendship support. Laughing in the Dark is an excellent resource. It's the perfect book to give to a girlfriend who suspects she might be suffering from this debilitating mental illness, but is unsure about how to get a diagnosis and proper treatment.
Chonda also reminds her readers that those who suffer from depression often feel shame and humiliation—and a lack of faith. Armed with a book like this, I’m thankful that I can offer someone some help and hope, and even a healthy dose of laughter. I highly recommend it.
Related
1. Spiritual Growth: Anger & Forgiveness by Chrysalis
2. For a boatload of good reads, visit Jennifer’s meme "What's On Your Nightstand?" at
Five Minutes for Books the fourth Tuesday of every month.
Up Next—Christians & Alternative Medicine
Your thoughts on depression?
6 Comments:
As you probably already know, I loved this book! I'll soon be lending it out, and I may actually pick up an additional copy just for that purpose.
Thanks for the recommendation - I'll be looking for this. I loved the rumored quote from Mark Twain, by the way!
Thanks for this Spotlight. I am going to have to get the book. Depression is definitely something we don't talk about as Christians. But when I came out and admitted my struggles, others said they had also struggled. Today by the grace of God I can say I am healed. My prayer now is to help others who are struggling know that they are not alone.
This looks like a wonderful book...I have heard of Chondra but never have seen her in person or read the books.
Depression is definitely a real thing..although I don't struggle with this...I do believe it is very real....one of my sisters struggled with it for years...Glory to God she has been healed although she did do some medication for a while as well. I have had times though when dealing with certain issues that depression or "the blues" has reared its head.....but clinical depression is definitely something that is real and that, often, church leadership are sometimes not equipped to deal with.
April: Thanks again for blogging about this book! I agree, it's one of those books you want to lend out. :~D
BTW, your "One Million Arrows" book review will be going live next week. Watch for it! ((Hugs))
Jennifer in OR: LOL, Mark Twain is credited with a lot... I wonder if he really made that statement!
Alicia: Thanks for sharing your inner life, both here, and on your blog Alicia. I hope you'll open up some more, so we can glean from your experience. I'm so glad to know you're healed now. No doublt you'll be able to minister to others suffering from depression in a powerful way. (((Hugs)))
Faith: I'm sorry your sister struggled with depression. Medication does help, and is a good temporary solution until therapy or counseling can be found. Did she go off her anti-depressants? (Just curious.)
I agree, church leadership are often unprepared to deal with depression... there still is alot of confusion and misunderstanding concerning its cause (repressed anger), and proper treatment. Thanks for stopping by today.
I think the hardest thing I have had to deal with - with a loved ones depression is that when you do open up about it - some people use it against you - that is devastating - we have a lot to learn in the body of Christ about how to love someone through depression and not categorize them and then walk away.
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