Walter's loss

I understand that Andrew Koenig has just been found dead in a park in Vancouver park. He was the son of Star Trek actor Walter Koenig, best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series.

In a brief statement, Walter revealed that it was believed his son had taken his own life, following an ongoing battle with depression. Andrew was 41, and had failed to return to his home in LA earlier this month. His body was discovered on Thursday 25th February. The coroner's report is still awaited.

Andrew had previously enjoyed some success in his acting career, having enjoyed a regular role on US television in the Eighties. He was also an environmental activist, and an advocate for refugees from Myanmar.

"If you are one of those people who can't handle it any more, know people are out there who really care before you make that final decision," Walter Koenig said. "Talk to somebody."

Holding On

I was inspired today by a quotation mentioned in today's Armybarmy blog. Here's the full quotation.

"Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire. Tenacity is more than hanging on, which may be but the weakness of being too afraid to fall off. Tenacity is the supreme effort of a man refusing to believe that his hero is going to be conquered. The greatest fear a man has is not that he will be damned, but that Jesus Christ will be worsted, that the things He stood for - love and justice and forgiveness and kindness among men - will not win out in the end; the things He stands for look like will-o'-the-wisps. Then comes the call to spiritual tenacity, not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately on the certainty that God is not going to be worsted.

"If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified. There is nothing noble the human mind has ever hoped for or dreamed of that will not be fulfilled. One of the greatest strains in life is the strain of waiting for God. 'Because thou hast kept the word of my patience.'

"Remain spiritually tenacious."
Oswald Chambers

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

More on Bullying

It was quite an eyeopener to see the newspapers this morning - particularly in the context of my own recent blog entry which touched upon bullying a month or so ago (read it here). And lo and behold, the whole topic makes the front pages of the press today. Wow!

There is plenty of spin for us all to unpack and analyse in the context of the next General Election, and only time will tell how much of what has been revealed is spin and how much truth. However, in all this, where is the consideration for those who have suffered at the hands of bullies? As one who still remembers bullying from schooldays, I'm quite sensitive to it. This situation has rather sadly revealed that patient confidentiality for those who have suffered at the hands of others may be secondary to political aspirations. Which is wrong.

For more on the topic, see http://www.bullyonline.org

Blogging along

It's interesting to get people's reactions to the fact that I have my own blog. I don't make a habit of advertising the fact - if I tell two people in a month, that's a lot. I also keep a link on my Facebook page for those who are interested in that sort of thing. But that's about it for publicity. I mentioned it to someone today, which is why it's fresh in my mind.

Sometimes you have to explain to your friends what a blog actually is; other times, they know already and are intrigued as to what I might say. Perhaps they'll find out a little more about me, what makes me 'tick'... I just find the whole exercise of putting these stray thoughts of mine down in writing to be very therapeutic. It appeals to the frustrated writer in me.

Hopefully they may inspire someone else!

Bitter Waters

Exodus 15:22-27 (The Message)

22-24 Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, "So what are we supposed to drink?"

25 So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet.

26 That's the place where God set up rules and procedures; that's where he started testing them.

God said, "If you listen, listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, then I won't strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am God your healer."

27 They came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They set up camp there by the water.

Be Strong

Joshua 1:6-9 (New International Version)
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

The Thief Of Time

Sounds like a good title for an adventure novel, doesn't it?* Our nemesis this week, the dastardly Thief of Time. He is determined to rob you of your ability to deal effectively with anything, by stealing all of your available hours. There simply isn't the time to stop him! (*in fact, Terry Pratchett has already used this for a title of one of his Discworld novels. Good man!)

Of course, this is a reference to procrastination, a habit that some people have of putting tasks off to 'tomorrow'. However, if you are not careful, 'tomorrow' simply never comes...

Interestingly, this is not by and large due to laziness; the studies I have undertaken on the subject reveals that this behaviour is more often triggered by issues other than sheer sloth. Simply speaking, chalking the problem up to laziness may not be the answer... Other factors may include stress, overwhelming emotions, lack of motivation, lack of discipline, and of course poor time management.

More later...

TWLOHA

I don't usually post Youtube links to this blog, but I was particularly moved by this story. Hope you are too...

A Miracle of Grace

I’m going to make my life into a melody,
I’m going to praise my Saviour all day long,
I’m going to make my life into a symphony,
A glorious symphony of song.

Chorus
For God will fill me with his power,
My pathway trace;
He’s going to make my life into a miracle,
A mighty miracle of grace.

extract from SASB 858 (Flora Larsson)