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Thursday, November 12, 2020

When Heroes Fall

Alex Trebek is gone, fallen victim to pancreatic cancer.

He was a good man, a staunch Christian, as recorded in his words, from Guideposts (the embedded link in the quotation is a tribute to his wife, Jean):

“There were moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned, and sudden massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on. But I brushed that aside quickly because that would have been a massive betrayal–a betrayal of my wife and soulmate Jean who has given her all to help me survive. And it would certainly have been a betrayal of my faith in God and the millions of prayers that have been said on my behalf.”

Pancreatic cancer is a horrible, cruel thing...the pain it engenders is unreal, and the humiliations, in uncontollable bowels and vomiting and soul-destroying fatigue and depression...well.

I never met Mr. Trebek. But his fight, carried out in faith and in public, was my lodestar.

If he could do it, I could try.

I am bereft. I know I should look to God, but I did look to Alex.

Hope isn't canceled, but it took a hit (and cancel is the Five Minute Friday word prompt this week).


The world’s a little paler

beneath the winter sky,

and hope is somehow staler

when heroes have to die.

We followed your bright shining light,

courage like the hardest stone,

but now God has called the fight

and gently brought you home.

I’m glad your battle’s finished,

and that Heaven is your gift,

but my heart, it feels diminished

and I find myself adrift

upon a sea without a shore

where your tall sails are seen no more.


A musical tribute from the Dropkick Murphys, with Forever. If the video doesn't come up, please click here.)

"Your strength is the power that carried me through...forever."


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.







41 comments:

  1. Andrew, I know the last week has been more emotionally draining than most, the loss of the physician that respected & loved you just for the person you are, was the biggest blow. Followed up with another celebrity passing away from a disease that will most likely be your ultimate fate.

    I hope and pray you find strength and peace and courage in their existence here but More so in their trust and hope in eternal exists. The Wife

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    1. Thank you so much for this...it was a terribly hard week, more so than I allowed myelf to truly feel.

      Please keep up the prayers for peace and courage. They're needed.

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  2. ah Andrew, it's hard when one you had some hope passes away. It's a hard one. I'll encourage to look to God, it's what Trebek would have wanted yes?

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    1. Annette, it is hard...and yes, I think Mr. Trebek would have pointed to God, and have said, "Look THAT way!"

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  3. What a beautiful tribute. We love you Andrew and B.

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    1. Thank you so much, Susan...we love you right back!

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  4. I'm sad to read the comments and learn of your difficult week. I thought of you when we heard about Alex. But oh my, Andrew, you always make good. God makes good through you. Your words are a gift and a blessing, and I know Alex is seeing them, too. Take care of you! Sending love, my friend. (Karen FMF #10)

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    1. Karen, your words truly lifted my heart, and your friendship is a gift. Love back!

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  5. Dear Andrew, that is such a lovely and heartfelt tribute. Your writing touched me this week. God's got you covered with the blood of Jesus. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you. Visit from FMF#8

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    1. Paula, thank YOU for this gracious and kind comment!

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  6. Andrew, it is hard to lose someone you admire and look to for hope. But whether you realize it or not, you have been looking to God as well. He is with you, in the hard, in the pain, encouraging you to keep on going until the day He calls you home. You are a gift to so many so keep on fighting, my friend! Praying for you and Barb today.

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    1. Joanne, thank you so much for this reassurance...one sometimes loses perspective in the face of a setback, and your words and prayers lend strength.

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  7. Hope is not cancelled and this is beautiful. Keep shining you bring hope to so many. God bless Loretta

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    1. Loretta, hope's indeed not cancelled. I'll keep smiling. Blessings back!

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  8. Andrew, I know how difficult it must be to see someone you looked to for inspiration lose their battle against such a relentless for like cancer as you wage your own. He fought the good fight and ran the good race but more importantly the war has already been won. He is now privy to all the answers and they don't have to be in the form of a question. Stay strong. Keeping you in my prayers.

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    1. Duane, that's perfect..."the war has alreay been won". Thank you for this, and for your prayers.

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  9. All I can do when I read this is cry. My words are just empty syllables in comparison. Prayers for you.

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    1. Mary, your words, your prayers, and your presence here mean more to me than I can say.

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  10. Thanks for visiting my blog. Yes, my friend of whom I wrote died of pancreatic cancer as well. Your poem was beautiful. Thanks for sharing your gift, even though it's such a difficult time for you.

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    1. Netablogs, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend...this is a hard way to go. I'm very grateful that you stopped by.

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  11. I am thrilled to find you still writing, as I have not been in this space in quite some time. Praying for you as you continue to be a light and hope for others. May you be encouraged as you faithfully walk these days you have been and use your strength to encourage and engage with others.

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    1. I'm so glad you're back with Five Minute Friday, and I thank you so much fo these encouaging, uplifting words, and most especially for your prayers.

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  12. We were also saddened to hear of Mr Trebek's passing. Praying for you, and glad to see you're still writing. Thank you for taking the time to visit my FMF offering this week too.

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    1. Kym, the world is surely a smaller place without Mr. Trebek...but I have no doubt Heaven is now that much bighter!

      Thank you so much for your prayers; they mean a lot to me.

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  13. A beautiful post for a man of high standing
    He has now found his heavenly landing
    From the most popular stage of a game show
    to fight cancer the biggest foe
    Your tribute is right and true
    May we treasure the trivia and cheer that he grew.

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    1. Jennifer, this is just beautiful...and perfect!

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  14. I'm so sorry, Andrew, and I have no words.
    The tribute you wrote is so beautiful and heartfelt. You are one very special person.
    Love from Grams, #36

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  15. Andrew,
    the days are short, the nights are long
    the pain regales us in heartless song
    Our voices cry in hopeless sighs,
    our Lord and Savior, where are you?

    Four hundred years of listless life
    enslaved, oppressed, and filled with strife
    and yet the promise in our past
    held out on the horizon.

    Cycles of faithfulness and turning away
    in love with the Lord but then falling astray
    He never completely abandoned his bride
    and brought forth his Son from a maiden

    I don't know if you are able to read, but Mary Geisen's "The Advent Narrative" just came out, and it's beautiful.
    I'd happily send you a copy if you'd like.

    Always clinging to hope,
    Tammy

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    1. Tammy, this is so beautiful! Thank you!

      I'll happily accept you offe of a copy of The Advent Narrative, on Barb's behalf...reading is a bit had for me now because concentrating is tough, ue to lack of oxygen, I guess.

      Thank you so much!

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  16. Sometimes it's a great great blessing to have others in the same boat. We are reassured again that we are not alone ...

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    1. Lina, that's so true...and it does confer quite a responsibility, for as I admired Mr. Trebek, might others hold me in esteem, as inspiration?

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  17. This is perfect, Andrew. Sending love to you and Barb.

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  18. I'm so glad that they did not "cancel" Jeopardy after Alex died but are giving him tribute upon tribute and keeping the show alive with another fine host someday, Andrew! And yes, your fight is very similar, I'm sure, to Alex' and I hope that you keep on fighting with all you've got! So far, so good! Hugs and prayers to you, my friend!

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    1. Beth, I agree...Alex woul have wante the show to go on...an, in my life, so do I.

      But I'm still here...so far, so good. Thank you so much for the prayers, and hugs back!

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  19. Ahhh, Andrew. I'm so sorry. I appreciate your transparency, and my heart hurts for you. It's hard to lose someone we look up to. I'm praying for you, my friend.

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    1. Jeanne, thank you so much. It was a hard loss; I hadn't really realized how much I looked up to Alex Trebek.

      Thank you so much or your prayers!

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  20. I'm so sorry, Andrew. Alex will be missed.

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