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Thursday, August 13, 2020

For Ever, And Be Strong

 First off, sorry for the double-spacing in the poem below; Blogger no longer allows for line spacing control. Hopefully, this will be fixed, or I'm off to Wordpress.org

We're still looking for a home for Sadie the Catahoula; if you're interested, please email catahoula_sadie@outlook.com

It's getting really hard to uphold the 'never say die' thing in the cancer fight; I have to force myself to drink as well as eat (and cold beer is a cherished memory); nausea and pain are beat-head-against-wall-bad.

Like just about everyone on God's Green Earth, I use Bible verses and moto slogans to buck myself up.

And as things got worse, they failed me. "Fear not!" when you're terrified? "Be strong!" when you take out a dog and can't get back to your front door?

So it's easy to take a jaundiced view of motivational 'materials', but is it right?

Well, yes and no. What people write represent individual experience, and that experience may not be analogous to yours. I am not Paul the Apostle; I am not Tony Robbins. Paul is more likely to speak to my life now, but even so, boasting of weakness when I have to crawl to the dunny just doesn't seem to do it, y'know?

However...if I try to look past current circumstance, there is a meaning behind the meaning. My weakness now is not disgrace; it's something of a liberation. I can't do this! acquires a coda: But with God's help, maybe I can.

Or maybe I can't, and have to call for aid, or...sorry...use a bedpan. The saving grace of Paul's words...the grace that saves my heart...is acceptance.

Likewise with my favourite motivational saying, Ake ake kia kaha, which is often translated from the Maori as 'forever strong', but is more accurately forever, and be strong. The first is a boast, and that's not a bad thing, but the latter is more a benediction and a gentle wish.

To me, this says that life is legacy; this moment, even though it may be one of my last on earth, has a lasting effect both on those let behind, and on me. Taking the strength to smile (and right now, smiling hurts, not emotionally but physically!) adds something to eternity.

I'm smiling.

"Ake ake kia kaha -

for ever, and be strong!"

Is it truth or is it blather?

Is it right, or wrong?

Slogans are not definition,

war cries hold no lease

as bulwark against perdition

in the belly of the beast.

And yet, and yet,

in gather'd gloom

when I am sore beset

the words are proof against my doom

and in haka's fearsome roar

I perceive a golden door.


As a special treat, here are two videos. The first is perhaps the greatest haka ever, before the All Blacks played France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final...which the All Blacks won 8-7, in the lowest-scoring World Cup final ever. (Blogger is, I'm told, being weird. If you can't see the video click here.)

Next, here's Kiri te Kaanawa singing Now Is The Hour. (Likewise, if the video's not visible, click here.)


I do try to answer each comment in a timely fashion, but with Internet providers really stretched, I have only about half of the access I once did. Please bear with me!


Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.









35 comments:

  1. Boast vs benediction... I love it.

    (((((Andrew)))))

    Annie in Texas

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  2. Your insights and your strength continue to inspire, Andrew! Sending love always.

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  3. Hey Andrew ... I'm still trying to navigate a few glitches in Blogger, too. Like is there a spell check? If you find one let me know.

    But meanwhile I'll probably stay there forever because I'm so incredibly technically challenged and anything like that steals my freedom, robs any creativity I have, and makes me crazy.

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    1. Linda, I have not seen a spell check here...but I'll probably stay, too...I like the orange swirly stuff in the backgroun.

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  4. "...the grace that saves my heart...is acceptance." Such beautifully true words, Andrew. Accepting what we can't change brings freedom, doesn't it? No matter how long we push against, curse, or try to circumvent reality, it's only when we learn to accept that we find peace. I have no experience in life that allows me to understand even a tiny part of your reality, but I do know the grace of acceptance that saves the heart. May that peace bring comfort to you today, my friend.

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    1. Susan, thank you for this...and yes, acceptance is the root of freedom, a tree that we may sometimes water with our tears, but which provides shae nonetheless.

      Thank you so much for being here!

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  5. Nothing I can say Andrew except keeping you in my prayers, Andrew.

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    1. Duane, prayers are the most important thing, and I thank you for your.

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  6. For years I've loved watching hakas. Sometimes I imagine that's what we look like to God when we gather together in worship. May the battle cry of our faith bring us together and bring us close to God.

    Amie, FMF #21

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    1. Amie, I LOVE this image, of our worship being a haka. Terrific!

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  7. Both videos are working fine. Though I couldn't understand the words Kiri was singing, it bought tears to my eyes. Andrew, you are in my heart, but I have no appropriate words. Sending love, as well as prayers for comfort, and that you would be able to feel the Lord's presence walking through this dark valley with you. Praying for His mercy and grace, and that your fear/terror would be replaced by His peace that surpasses understanding.

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    1. Grams, thank you so much for this sweet, loving comment. I'm so grateful that we met. You touch my heart.

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  8. Great post as always and I love this line: " I can't do this! acquires a coda: But with God's help, maybe I can." Praying that you know his strength and peace.

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    1. Lesley, I'm so glad you found value here, and so grateful for your prayers!

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  9. come to light... wordpress rocks... :) Seriously though, liked that poem double spaced or not.

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    1. Annette, thank you so much! Still haven't decided...I really don't want to lose the orange swirly background.

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  10. Thanks for the videos! Great viewing this evening!!:)

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    1. Jennifer, I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos! Thank you so much for being here.

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  11. You taught something new again, Andrew. I have never heard or seen the haka, and I enjoyed it. Thanks. Take care.

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    1. Suzette, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this. My fourth grade teacher was a Kiwi, and he'd do a haka at the rop of a hat.

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  12. Andrew, my friend, praying continually. A reminder for you from the book of Romans: “If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lords.”

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    1. Amen to the verses from Romans! Praying for you & Barb, dear Andrew.
      Love in Christ, Kathryn Z.

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    2. Tara, I love that Scripture from Romans! Thank you so much for your prayers!

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  13. This brought a pain-free smile to my face, so thank you for that gift.

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    1. Paula, so glad to give you a smile! Thank you so much for being here!

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  14. I think your motivational saying is a great template for my prayer for you, Andrew! I will pray that God makes you forever strong, even when it feels like you can't manage another minute or task! Hugs to you, my friend. Btw, I don't think the double-spacing on your poem looks bad at all. Don't sweat the small stuff, my friend!

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    1. Beth, thank you! That's a wonderful prayer, and the hugs are so appreciated!

      I'm glad the double-spacing isn't an impediment...I won't abandon Blogger. I really like the orange swirlies.

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    2. Beth, that is a beautiful prayer for Andrew, and going forward, I will stand in agreement with you.

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  15. Andrew, I continue to pray for you as you walk out each day. What you said about mottos being borne of personal experience resonates. They can be helpful, but to a limited extent.

    I also appreciated what you shared about the Maori saying. Such a difference between the two interpretations! Your insights always make me think.

    Oh, and my youngest and I enjoyed watching the Haka video. Thanks for sharing!

    Sending prayers, my friend.

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    1. Jeanne, I'm so gla you enjoyed the dichotomy in the interpretation. I learned 'Forever, and be strong' first, and the shorter version only much later.

      Glad you guys enjoyed the haka!

      And thank you so very much for your prayers.

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  16. Always wise, wonderful, and witty. Good thoughts in this one. Appreciate you, Andrew. God bless you.

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