Free & Fit - Rising in the Face of Adversity
- Tim Cheux
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
Free & Fit - Rising in the Face of Adversity by TJ Cheux
This month has been a wired, weird, and worrisome September. Whilst on shift at the airport this week, I engaged with tragedies across local, national, and international news. Here in Charlotte, a local Ukrainian girl was stabbed to death while traveling on the light rail. It wasn’t the first time I’ve had to meet with people to discuss and pray over a tragic death in the Charlotte metro area.
Sadly, on a broader national scale, another young life has been lost to a fatal shooting—Charlie Kirk, 31—who leaves behind his brave wife, two children, and a legacy of faith and advocacy.
Meanwhile, on an international scale, citizens in Mexico City were hit with the tragic news of eight lives lost after a gas tanker exploded. This wasn’t a shooting or a crime-related incident necessarily, but it still raises questions about safety, security, and the well-being of our people—our mental health, and our assessment of our mental health as a society.
These incidents, tragedies, or events bring pain, not peace, and could perhaps be more accurately described as a growing phenomenon of evil or negligence—both of which can, and should, be stopped. Together, we must fight against injustices, gather ourselves, and somehow find solitude and silence through the experience—enabling healthy mental health practices that provide space for us to experience our feelings and emotions without having to end our cycle of thoughts with no other option than the solution that is tragedy.
Whatever your political or ideological stance, the example of Erika Kirk—wife and now widow—stands tall. She has vowed to fight her own version of injustice and continue her husband’s mission: to travel the country and build awareness and sensitivity around the fight against injustice.
We must create opportunities for ourselves, for orphans, for widows, for refugees, for immigrants, for the mentally ill, and for all people who need help with processing trauma and dealing with anger and emotions.
We must become a society with a growing sense of urgency—not to be subdued, but to stand strong in response, to stop fear, selfish motivation, and injustice, and rise up against it. Jesus consistently taught us to love God first, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. We must love our mentally ill neighbors.
One way of seeking help in these situations is being able to recognize mental ill health in ourselves, and then others. The process of identifying mental health being ill is recognizing that if we suffer a migraine, a headache, or become angry in some way, we are mentally suffering some form of mental illness.
The process of overcoming our reluctance to engage with mental health denies us access to helping ourselves and others in the pursuit of peace. The identification begins with self and helps provide an awareness of the mental battle we all face—and that others begin experiencing before making some of the terrible tragedies we experienced this week.
If we truly love God and love people, we will broaden our awareness, increase our education, and deepen our understanding of these issues. We’ll educate our children, be proactive citizens, and love ourselves enough to make a difference.
Let’s be more aware, more prepared, and give reason for the hope we have—and the hope of all humanity—in Jesus Christ. Today, more than ever, our world needs Jesus! Let’s be praying for revival, restoration, and renewal in our world.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Possible education around mental health starts with podcasts! Here are some I love and recommend checking out:
Dr Caroline Leaf’s podcast the Dr Leaf podcast. Dr Leaf focuses on the well being of the individual and invites various guests to help understand more about our mind:
The author of the “Emotionally Healthy Church” Pastor Pete Scazzaro has a podcast called the “Emotionally Healthy Leader” which is also another good listen:
For personal and professional development please check out the international First Aid Mental Health Training which has helped me personally enormously:
Locally here in Charlotte you can join the Work of Mental Health First aid and their annual 5k run in May:
Seek a mental health Counsellor yourself with Better health and find a trained and licensed professional to help with your care and concerns personally:
For independent and specific therapy needs seek out Psychology today where you can a Counsellor for your specific and personal needs:
On a national level speak to a member of the Samhsa Team which is a national non-profit that provides care and advocacy for mental health issues:
For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]. [Is 40:13]”
1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP
Please email any questions to: Freeandfitnyc@gmail.com
Love and Blessings F& F Team.
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The Free and Fit course has been created to build strong social skills, charge healthy physical bodies and to instil a well balanced and sound mind. Participants who complete the full course over 12 sessions will learn how to work effectively with their team members to build strong values of power, love, and self discipline.
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