That Tom Cruise plane stunt; Social Media - Salvation or Sabotage?; A doctor dishes on MAiD
3 Things this week and the poem "Say it to the dying"
Well, the poetry contest that I’ve been chatting about for the last few months is officially closed. I’m looking forward to reading the submissions from around the world. Winners will be announced in June (TBD).
Thanks for spending part of your weekend with Things I Wrote Down. Let’s jump right to the link round up and a poem.
Let's rewatch that Tom Cruise plane stunt
Well, it's officially a wrap.
We Koomans have been fans of the Mission Impossible films for decades. So, of course, many of us hit the theatre for the final instalment.
We had some pretty hilarious texts between us across the country as we discussed its merits and its shortcomings.
Is it over-sentimental? Yes. Is there too many close ups of the cast members knowingly looking at each other? Of course. Is it too long and was there too much recap? There was.
What you can’t deny is that Cruise loved making these films and we loved him in them. The letter he wrote to fans said it all. We went because we love Tom's commitment to this role, to the craft, and how he helped keep cinema, specifically theatres, alive as we came out of the pandemic (with Top Gun: Maverick).
Here's a great video of the most dangerous stunts that he filmed for the series over the last few decades, including the motorcycle jump, his broken foot in Fallout, and the halo jump.
Social Media - Salvation or Sabotage?
Ever wonder if:
the algorithm knows you more than you know yourself?
you can really make $1 Million taking pictures of your feet?
the Apostle Paul would've been on TikTok?
Best-selling author Zach Windahl and content creator/entrepreneur Sazan Hendrix cover all that and so much more in the latest “Unto Jesus conversation” from Compassion International (which is a project I’ve helped lead for the last few quarters).
For people whose livelihoods and ministries are lived out online, they bring fascinating perspectives. It's a light-hearted, faith-filled, thought-provoking conversation. If you’re a doom-scroller, seek to make money or impact online, or simply love podcasts, you’ll enjoy it!
A doctor dishes on MAiD
Last week I shared how I became an unexpected advocate (on my Substack, Christian Post, UnveilTV series) against medical assistance in dying 💉 (MAiD) in Canada, where I live. After we came out of the fog of the pandemic and learned it was set to expand to include mental health, I woke up.
If you want to learn more about it, I highly recommend this article in First Things. This clear and measured essay is from the perspective of a doctor, who thought his profession was established on the promise to "do no harm."
It’s perhaps one of the best articles I’ve read on the subject. It’s simple, straightforward, and looks back over the last 8 years since the Criminal Code was changed in Canada to allow for doctor-assisted suicide.
The article is an indictment on how we treat the most vulnerable and I believe it's a must-read if you're learning about the issue, bracing for its arrival in your country (👋🏻 UK) or State, or want to get to the core of the issue: a medical system that now has two tiers, one that pulls some people back from the cliff, another that pushes them right over it.
A poem
I wrote this poem as my Oma was dying. Though I’ve written about MAiD the last few weeks and it’s very much in the news, death isn’t something I fixate on. However, it’s a reality of this already-but-not-yet sin afflicted world. Grief is a thing we cannot avoid, no matter what.
I think creation is one way we can navigate the complicated waters of grief. I thought I’d share this poem in light of that, and I offer it to you or to anyone grappling with loss and seeking words. Hopefully these, in some small way, bless you.
