Happenings 19 February 2026

The Academy awards are nearly upon us, and at the end of the glitzy proceedings, 24 statues will be given out to those whom others think are deserving. These gold-plated little fellas will probably sit on the living-room shelves of their new owners and be a constant reminder of the night when all their dreams came true.

The Greek and Romans did their award ceremonies differently, of course; they would give the winners a wreath made out of the Bay Laurel tree, and being a plant, the laurel wreath would soon shrivel and fade away.

So, on the one hand we have a gold-plated, permanent reminder of past glory; on the other, a contemporary token which soon diminishes. Which is better? For me, the laurel wreath … hands down. So often we can be tempted to rely on yesterday’s glories - those moments in our lives when we showed great sacrifice, enormous faithfulness to Jesus and steadfast perseverance, as if they prove that we are still sacrificial, still faithful and still full of perseverance today. But each new day holds new calls to faithfulness.

Hear Christ’s ‘Well done!’ for victories won in his service, but along with Paul, let’s ‘forget what is behind’ and ‘press on to what it ahead.’ Resting on ones laurels soon becomes a dry and dusty pastime.

In Him,
Murray