Memories of a different time...

This will be a more difficult post to write as I am making an attempt to reach more than my usual circle and it may get lost on some, or everyone. I hope it works....


  This is Rob.


I met Rob many years ago when he was the head pastor of the Kitchener Vineyard church. Tragically we lost Rob in February 2011. This is where you decide if you want to continue reading.

LONG before my swimming days I used to volunteer my time with teenagers at the Cambridge Vineyard. In retrospect my reasons were simple and few.

1. Teenagers have a tendency to feel rotten about who they are etc. and I wanted to help them feel at home in their own skin.
2. Teenagers often live life full blast and are full of adventure. It is life giving and contagious.
3. I needed something constructive to do that I was actually good at.

We had some leadership changes at the church many years ago and I was super jazzed when I learned that we were gaining Rob. He was only a couple years older than me so I felt like it would be a good fit. We recruited a couple other people our age and we formed a team to work with the teenagers. This was in addition to Rob's duties as a Pastor at the church. For a time - we had a blast. CRAZY times.


As many good things do.... it eventually came to an end. Not abruptly like the end of a book, but piece by piece things moved in different directions. As the Byrds paraphrased - "To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven". You can have your turns in there as you wish.
One of the changes that happened was Rob stepping down to do work and teaching in Zambia. It was there that he was involved in a construction accident and was killed, leaving behind his lovely wife and children.

I only ever knew Rob..... as Rob. In Ontario Pastoral circles however he was someone who was well known. His lovely wife Kate is the daughter of well known Cantelon family and the Halls have also made a name for themselves. Rob's funeral service was one like you have never seen and never will see again. The world lost someone great, and I lost a friend.

What have I learned from the life of Rob Hall?

There is a time to be straight. Rob was a great guy and could talk with anyone. But if you were talking nonsense he would be dead straight with you.

There is a time to be pensive and to consider your words. As a follow up to the lesson above - I don't know how many times I said something to Rob which almost got a straight answer.... but didn't. Several times he would stare at me and keep it between his teeth and consider what he had just heard, before returning to the first option.

There is a time to teach or instruct. Some people get stuck in teacher mode all the time. Not every encounter with someone should be a lesson. Rob knew how to pick his "time slots".


There is a time for heart and compassion. Guy if we don't learn this one... well we're dinked. A little bit more on this in a minute but Rob often would make a decision and then consider whether or not it would be something that would knock the wind out of them. He also had a heart for those who had nothing and for those that were on their way. He was great for giving people inspiration.


There is a time for fun. We did so many crazy things as a group. He was always able to one up me.


There is (always) a time for an adventure, even when there is risk. There is but one chance to live right now and you are not promised tomorrow. I am not the only one who learned this (or any of the other thing above) from Rob. But I hear more often about how "I only did X because of Rob" and it usually involves stepping outside the everyday comfort zone.


To people who knew all this before tripping over my post I am sure you realize that this is me processing (still) everything near the anniversary of losing him. You all have your own ways of remembering him and I have mine. Speaking of which - I still "See Rob" out in public. It is the craziest thing. SO many times I have seen someone that in some way makes me think "ROB?" until I have a second look and of course reality prevails.

To my swimmer gang you are probably wondering why I am bringing this here. In many ways swimming is to me now what working with teenagers was to me then. As crazy as that sounds. It is the thing that I am passionate about at this point in my journey called life. But there is more and it might sound preachy. There are life lessons here friends that I hope I can pass along. What wasn't said above about Rob was this - when he died I was upset with him and never sorted it out. It was not his fault but mine. I would give much to have the time to say sorry for being an ass in hindsight.

Lets recap. I throwing a pass here and hopefully the receiver recognizes it. There is a time to be straight. There is a lot of nonsense right now in our swimming bodies, let's get that straight. There is a time to be pensive and to consider your words. Some of you have gone bowling or skeet shooting on Facebook and haven't stopped to think about who you are chewing up and spitting out. There is a time to teach or instruct. A very few people out there actually have the knowledge and information for the mess we are in. This needs to grow from seed to tree. There is a time for heart and compassion. This leans more to the open water scene. Couple this one with not leaving the planet before resolving your grievances. There is time for fun and adventure - even when there is risk. Don't be a jackass but try new things. LIVE life and try something you haven't before. Don't be like the 15 year old version of me who let fear ruin his first OWS.

Perhaps the greatest thing I learned from Rob was something he called a Random Act Of Kindness. It is somewhat like Pay It Forward. I eluded to it above with compassion and heart. Many of you have done well in many aspects of your life. Don't force it - but look for the secret places where you can open the fist just a little bit. Give out of what you can for what you were given was not given just for you. It might be money.... but it might not be. I might be a meal, a hand, a hug, a ride, a bed, a swim etc. I'm pretty sure I wrote this (or something similar) once before but the story goes that C.S. Lewis was once walking with a friend and a beggar asked for money. Lewis gave him some and the friend asked "Won't he just spend it on drink?" to which Lewis replied "Yes, but if I kept it, so would I." Chew on that one for a bit.

I come to the end of this unlikely fusion. I hope someone has made it through unharmed.

If you are so inclined.... I have ZERO musical ability. I did however write this when Rob died. It pales in comparison to some others who wrote actual music etc. but the funny part is... I wasn't comparing. This is what I made at that time and it was what I had to offer. If you don't care for it.... well watch for a swimming post :)

The lyrics are written so that they fit the tune  "Lightning Crashes" by Live.  https://youtu.be/9NVezhhCl34



Until I touch the wall.....

Michael Kenny
Masters Swimmer
Cambridge Mavericks
Marathon Open Water Swimmer
2015-16 Global Swim Series Champion