Will Mayor Rob Ford run naked in the streets?

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/

* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Will Mayor Rob Ford run naked in the streets?

I hadn’t considered how close I was personally to doing the same thing that Jason Russell did in March 2012.

Someone caught Jason on video as he ran out in the street almost naked, beating the ground and doing other stuff that shouldn’t be done in public. Oh boy!

According to Dr. John Deadman, in an article that Isabel Teotonio wrote, it can happen to anyone if the conditions are right (or wrong).

Quote from Isabel, Dr. Deadman said, “It could occur in anybody if the stress is severe enough” says psychiatrist Dr. John Deadman, associate professor at McMaster University. “It’s just a matter of how high the stress level is and what your resistance to stress is.” End quote.

Jason Russell was involved in making a powerful video about the problems with “Kony” a rebel leader in Africa. This video and his organization came under attack from all sides. The video also went viral on YouTube with over 85 Million watching it.

Some people loved the video and others hated Jason.

Add to this a moral component and a spiritual one… and Jason is then under greater stress than anyone could ever imagine.

I have been there as a minister in a church. In fact it happened many times in that role over 30 plus years. But it happened more in the last 10 years of my ministry at Northview than anywhere else. Even thinking back to what took place over the Northview days makes my stomach queasy at times.

(A note here: It was only a few of “real gems” that caused the horror that we faced. But it helped to find out later that these same “gems” had caused other leaders the same kind of stress and nightmares! Not everyone did the kind of things that these “gems” will be rewarded for someday! But it only took a few to make it happen.)

So I can testify to a real issue with stress. Even today certain names, situations and things that took place in the past can set me off for a few hours, a few days or even longer. It takes a while to be restored or get better!

Recently a former assistant minister that had worked with me, referred to a certain night we had gone through together. He was brand new to the ministry at that time.

Certain seniors in our church orchestrated a night to never forget. The other seniors knew nothing of what they had planned. The young minister had sat beside me and was aghast with what two old people did.

He referred to that night as the “Attack Night” when he called me. That was a number of years ago now that Dear Sister S had her way to nearly killed the leadership of the church. She took on the entire board of the church and the pastors in front of her senior’s group… and tore them to pieces. That is why the young minister referred to it as the “Attack Night”.

The affect was complete. She showed everyone how nasty one person can get. More than half the Board of the church quit in a few month’s time and they left the church. I never recovered fully I am sure – neither did our young friend.

One of the other young ministers that night gave up on the ministry and finally life – he committed a quiet little suicide - all alone (– not just from the nasty old lady's actions but she was a start).

Stress in leadership is real. Stress when you are upfront and the centre of controversy is real. Stress can destroy your life and the original good goals that you have set out to do.

In a comical statement that I found early in my role as a leader simply stated, “It is difficult to remember your original goal was to drain the swamp when you are up to your ass in alligators.”

I have been nuzzled by a lot of alligators for sure… and some are old with grey hair and not as nice as they think they are.

Well my opening title was about Mayor Rob Ford, the leader and mayor of Toronto. The man with a big heart and bulldozer effect on most people around him. A man that is under considerable stress 99% of the time.

Whether it is losing the votes that he wants to pass in City Council, being attacked by whacko CBC comedians in his own driveway, or shot at with wicked newspaper reporters… this man knows stress!

It appears that his original goal was to drain the swamp in Toronto and build a subways system for the people of his Kingdom. He had 24 nasty councillors on the Toronto City Council vote against what he wanted… and only 19 of his friends voted for him and what he wanted.

Mayor Rob Ford went a little weird from all the newspaper reports and online stuff I could read. Immediately he refused to accept the vote. He began making statements about how he would stop it. Then most recently he started plotting how he would replace the 24 city councillors that out voted him – with people that would agree with him! No kidding! (See http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1151706--mayor-rob-ford-seeks-slate-in-next-election )

There can be no greater dilemma than the one that Rob Ford faces now. He promised big time... to make a subway appear. Now a bunch of negative thinking idiots stopped his plan with a vote at the City Council. They want a Lite Rail system that costs less. 24 of them said NO to Rob.

It is almost comical to read about what is happening to Rob Ford… yet for Rob Ford it is not one bit funny.

In the videos that I watched of Jason Russell having his personal melt down as he walked around naked in the street… that wasn’t funny either…yet you could hear the people laughing and giggling as they took Jason’s video.

When the dear old folk tried to kill the leadership of the church some people laughed at what they saw happening.

I never laughed. I vomited. I was not the same after that – ever again. Some told me I needed to move on... but when the pain is so deep.. you will write about it years later – and it comes back as if it just happened last night.

In my case, the Dear Old Lady was involved again in other settings and even more people left our church because of it. So I finally got it… she really couldn’t stand my guts... right or wrong… I was dead. Good goals or bad goals… I would never be good enough for this old gal. Sheesh…!

Jason faces the same problem. So does Rob Ford. The little old lady will always win. Everyone else will lose – but she has to be right.

Mr. Mayor Rob Ford.. I feel for you today. I think of you often… and I hope someone is watching out for you. Stay clear of the streets… Rob… they are not a good place to be right now. And as far as being on the radio program… you need to let it be… just go vomit – you can deal with it later.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Resource:
No one immune from the sort of public meltdown experienced by Jason Russell, the man behind Kony 2012 by Isabel Teotonio
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/mentalhealth/article/1151342--no-one-immune-from-the-sort-of-public-meltdown-experienced-by-jason-russell-the-man-behind-kony-2012
Melt Down video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGiR2TmeNYc
Original Video – Kony 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc&feature=related