2009 is now history

I'm writing this with only a few hours left on the clock. Soon it will be
2010, a new decade. We look back in awe at the events of the past
decade and yes the most significant happening was 911. That
certainly changed everything and it's ramifications are still being felt.
This decade has been extremely painful for me. My ex-wife
committed suicide in 2002 and it had an impact on me.
Moving out of the family home to here was also very traumatic.
Then Dad succumbing to war related illnesses in 2007 was
unexpected. My Mother is rapidly declining
into dementia and memory loss.

Healthwise I too am slowing down and increaingly find it difficult
to move about. I also have found it difficult with relationships.
I find it much easier to retreat and not be involved.
Perhaps I have some depression. Yes I am a Christian yet
I do question where I am at now.I do come from a sacramental
background and miss the reverence and dignity of the Eucharist.
I find often organised Christianity has done a lot of
damage and strayed from it's simple original beginnings.

There is naturally quite a deal of hype about the future but I can
see the seeds of another conflict quickly brewing especially
after the recent failure of the Copenhagen Clinate Change
Conference. This was what the future conficts will be
about, Resources and energy plus tribalism
allied with sectarianism which breeds extremism. A
real mix which will break out and be impossible to control
or contain. If nuclear weapons do fall into the hands of
despotic regimes, then a nuclear generated holocaust is only a
question of time.

I have read of prophecies that the end of the World will
happen in 2011 but these so-called prophets have
been wrong in the past. Will it happen? Nobody knows really
but it is unlikely in the short term.However there
will be wars and atrocities committed and I feel so helpless
because it out of our control. Can we change or alter
the future through Prayer? It really depends because we are
so eager to talk but often fail to listen. Prayer is a two-way process.

2010 has already arrived in NZ and be here in 75 minutes.
I am not going to stay up and see it in. I am off to bed and
try and sleep. It is very hot tonight and hope we do get a cool change soon.

Robin 1020 UTC December 31st 2009

Is it news? Reflection in Hindsight

I am fed up with the recent media coverage of so-called "celebrities". Why are they so fixated on their private and public lives? Why do we have to have wall to wall coverage of their activities in life or death? In my humble opinion,there are certainly more deserving stories with substance and carrying more importance. A report of some stupid starlet who has had too much alcohol and is in trouble with authorities resulting from too much drink. Or that an American female singer with absolutely no talent has been caught out lip-synching in a "comeback" concert tour. Is this really news? I suppose we have to be aware of being taken for a ride by promoters trying to sell people with absolutely no talent.

I was going to say the recent wall to wall coverage of Tiger Woods visit to Australia was quite over the top. He was paid over $3 million just to appear and in fact won the tournament. Well we now know he has come off the rails and has been found out. Again media coverage has been wall to wall with plenty of alleged mistresses lining up to say "Tiger was here"! Looks as if his celebrity statuus has spiraled downwards. He is presumably bunkered down probably with well-heeled attorneys trying to save his career and bank balance. I can't say I feel sorry for him, after all he did it himself and thought he was invincible. I feel sorry for his wife and daughter.

Robin

0300 UTC December 10 2009