Please Pray for The Big Yin; and fellow sufferers

As the multi-talented Billy Connolly reflects on the things of life and death, he does so as a victim.

TO paraphrase Aristotle: “Give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the foundations of a man.”

A friend sent me a link to a short video the other day. It was a journey through the life of a high-profile character by the name of the Billy Connolly. Now as he approaches the end of his life, he has recently spoken about his health; suffering as he has done over the past eleven years from Parkinson's Disease. While back in his earlier life he saw eternity as a "nothing", the entertainer is now more reflective.

In his biography the internationally-known comedian/artist reveals a damaged childhood. I have been in the same room as him on three different occasions. At one point in time, I wrote about him once but also to him. It was in late August 2003. I know that, because I still have a copy of the letter.

Back then, the bearded banjo-player come comedian had been staying with some of his friends the previous weekend at his Highland retreat. The mini-castle is set in the Cairngorm National Park on Royal Deeside and close to Balmoral Castle. It was there he entertained his chums from the world of film and entertainment; among them Dame Judy Dench, Steve Martin and the late Robin Williams. As my editorial remit was to write from ‘a Christian perspective on current news’, the following copy was duly despatched to the sub-editor’s desk.

29/08/2003

LAST weekend Billy Connolly, with an invited entourage of other world-famous folk, held his annual bash at his Candacraig home.
Yet back in 1969, on the opening night of the Inverness Folk Festival (a truly vintage event), I had never heard of him. However, come the closing concert, I never laughed so much in all my life. The bearded banjo-playing front man for the Humblebums had the audience bent over in mirth. My stomach ached and the tears rolled down my cheeks. I remember pleading that he would stop.

Subsequently he started touring on his own. Our next encounter was six years later. On that night in Portree town hall, I came to realise that his transition from musician to stand-up comedian was almost complete. And for BC the big time lay just around the corner.

His biography revealed that he was (is) the victim of child abuse.

However, I later felt it a great pity to witness the increasing vulgarity in his act. (He is so talented he doesn’t need to do that.) But more recently his biography revealed that he was (is) the victim of child abuse; and I started to wonder. Perhaps the outrageous stage persona and his battle with booze stem from the painful memories? I suddenly felt extremely sorry for the very famous funny man they call “the Big Yin”.

The life story of another

Alongside all of this, came a tale from our eldest daughter. Returning home recently for a visit, she had been seated for the long-haul flight beside “a lovely lady who now lives in Australia and who looked after me so well.” And the lady produces beautiful gift cards with a copy of her personal story enclosed. Carolyn - the daughter of a retired military officer - was sexually molested from the age of five to seventeen. And this, coupled to a teenage involvement with the occult, almost destroyed her life.

She grew up thinking that the abuse was “just what big people did to little people”. She learned how to live behind a mask - to the point that she never really knew who she was. Terrified of rejection, she struggled for perfection and approval at every turn. But she was never able to fill the vacuum inside her heart. Yet she went on to marry a loving caring man, and produced four lovely children. But still she would cry all day - only putting on her smiling face to collect the children from school. Not even her family or her closest friends knew.

"Jesus began to reach into the hidden corners of my heart; to heal the pain.."

However, in late 1993, Carolyn finally “crashed”. She spent two weeks in hospital, saw a psychiatrist and took a bunch of pills “to try and quieten my war-torn head and ease my aching heart”. But then a Christian lady called Ruth taught her about the need for forgiveness; and about generational sin. (Carolyn’s molester, with whom she is now completely reconciled, was himself a child victim).

This opened a whole new world for her. “Jesus began to reach into the hidden corners of my heart; to heal the pain, remove the resentment and dispel the bitter root of judgement and unforgiveness, to reveal His Way, His Truth, His Life." Carolyn now testifies that sexual abuse impacts every single area of life - with no exceptions. And so, in the wake of this year’s Lonach Gathering, when all the guests will have left Strathdon, I find myself thinking of Billy Connolly again.

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As part of the personal letter I sent to him at the time, I included the following:

Carolyn's Cards

“I enclose a copy of Carolyn’s testimony which she e-mailed to me as I thought that you might like to read it – along with a sample of cards that she publishes. (Carolyn’s story speaks for itself.) And these I send with the prayer of my heart that you will know God’s healing in all the areas of your life that have been hurt and scarred by the things that you have suffered.”

God has made us and want us whole – in the greatest sense of that word. But He tells us that there is a separation between Him and us which can only be removed by putting Jesus Christ on the throne of our lives; by surrendering all that we are and have to Him”.

I do trust that you will have a great time with your family and friends around you this weekend in Strathdon."

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SO in viewing the aforementioned video, here I am; back thinking of him again. His experience of sexual abuse in his very young years inevitably carried through into his many years on stage; and his comments on matters spiritual revealed him as being far from God. Like Carolyn, what he had endured seriously impacted on his life. Many disturbed personalities are the result of childhood abuse. Aside from sexual abuse, many adult males who find themselves confused about their sexuality/gender are ‘victims’ of either a violent father or an overly-possessive mother; or both.

Please do pray for those on the brink..

If you have been reading this article, please pray for Billy Connolly and those who have similarly suffered. He is 81 years old now and in suffering from Parkinson’s, he “feels his life slipping away”. Yet even back in 1975 he was thinking about life after death, and that there is some spiritual power which is controlling him. Have a look at the video, and please pray that the multi-talented Big Yin will find the Saviour while he has yet time.

Come to think of it, perhaps I should write to him again.

Footnotes:
1. The response facility below is open to all site visitors. Scroll down.
2. For those wish to write to him, there is a mailing address on Billy Connolly's website.
It is: 1107 Key Plaza, Suite 517, Key West, Florida, USA 33040
However according to Google Maps it is a vehicle space in a car park. Is Billy using a proxy address or having a laugh at us?

Feedback:

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	Stella Whillans (Guest)	18/06/2024 19:28
Oh Colin! I cannot tell you how much this has encouraged me in how our amazing Lord moves in ways we cannot see. The Lord put Billy Connolly on my heart years ago - to pray for his salvation and all the abuse and obvious damaged caused to him. Definitely write to him again. He is clearly on God's heart too! Bless you for all you do and your faithfulness to your call. Stella
	DS (Guest)	19/06/2024 06:56
Thank you, dear Colin, for sharing this moving testimony of Billy Connolly and the invitation and privilege to pray for him. This touches my heart deeply as it does for so many, many others who have, and still do, suffer in similar fashion. How our Father God must deeply, deeply grieve for His creation - and children the world over. There is an answer - and it is Jesus. Only He can heal and make us whole. I shall pray for Billy and loved ones I know who, without knowing, or choose to reject, need to surrender to The Good Shepherd. God bless you and all the C.T. Family
	Editor	19/06/2024 06:59
From JL >>>> Thank you for this info,I also have had Billy in mind for a number of years,and have been aware of the possible link between his illness and the abuse and trauma. I believe his wife Pamela trained as a physiologist to try to understand and help . Billy was brought in Roman Catholicism. I have followed him with some interest to see how his life would pan out. I almost wrote to him also,with the knowledge that Jesus could heal those wounds. <<<<
	FN (Guest)	19/06/2024 14:33
Thank you for this. I used to watch him a lot too and laughed til my sides split; who remembers THAT Micharl Parkinson interview which is now part of history. And like you I turned away as his language became vile and so sad… then I read his book and understood. Paul Gadd (otherwise known as Gary Glitter) is another. So much a part of my childhood and then vilified for his behaviour and he too was abused. The Lord told me to write to him and send him a Bible, and as I questioned if this was the Lord, He clearly said to me, what if you’re the only one who points him to Me? Someone very close to me was abused and I prayed faithfully for him and witnessed to him over and over. He seemed far off but a week before he died, he gave his life to Christ and that was all the encouragement I needed. These famous people may have no one else bringing them before our Father and asking for mercy for them. What a privilege it is when called like to intercede. Thank you for sharing, it’s encouraging.
	Anthony (Guest)	19/06/2024 15:49
Very moved Colin by this post. I pray that Billy will come home to his Father who loves him and be able to lay his head on our Lord's chest and find that elusive peace. His heavenly father's own heart was broken by the actions of Billy's earthly father and aunt who should have loved him. Lord, take Billy into your arms just like the father that took his prodigal son in to his arms.
	Anna (Guest)	24/06/2024 12:38
I read your article about Billy Connelly with great interest. He was a lovely man behind all the public persona. Having been brought up in the Free Church in Lewis he always teased me ( not unkindly) about my Presbyterian ways but I was as wild as the rest of them! I think of him often and have long wished to write to him. I know he will remember me especially as one of his songs came from a story I had told him. I would dearly like to write to him if you are able to find an address for him. We were great friends in the 70s early 80s until we lost touch when I moved from Edinburgh, got married, had children and ultimately became a Christian. We had other mutual friends on the folk scene who have died and I’ve always regretted that I didn’t reach out to them to share my faith but Billy has been very much on my mind and in my prayers over the years. I never liked or approved of the crude language and he knew that but I loved him dearly as a gentle and close friend. Please continue to encourage people to pray for him. Every blessing
	Elizabeth (Guest)	24/06/2024 16:36
A very interesting (and touching) article. I was not aware of the abuse he suffered as a child and how that undoubtedly affected his life and "view" of God. It IS encouraging that he now reflects on a future "life over the hill". I pray he finds the peace only God can give him and accepts His love, mercy and forgiveness through Jesus. ?? (and I DO think you should write to him again.)
	Alasdair M (Guest)	24/06/2024 16:37
Thanks for sharing Colin. We're praying knowing that Jesus is the very best Shepherd, and is constantly looking for the vast numbers of lost sheep. He is able and uses us as helpers and enablers....
	Andy M (Guest)	24/06/2024 16:37
Thank you indeed. I will be praying that he sees, and will know, Christ in these last days.
	Helen Munro (Guest)	24/06/2024 16:38
Eternal life available through trusting Christ the only Saviour. He loved you enough to die for you to pay your “ticket” to Heaven where all is perfect. Trusting the Perfect Saviour results in being clothed in His righteousness forever. Christians as ambassadors would plead “Be reconciled to God” now is the day of Salvation. God wants you to be with Him forever. He is willing to remove your sins past. Present and future if you are willing to repent toward God(willing to say that He is right and you are wrong and deliberately place Faith(belief, Trust in the One who died for you and rose again, is alive for evermore and has the keys of Hell and of Death. Bow the knee to Him Now willingly. All will do it in the future but too late then for blessing of forgiveness and eternal Salvation John 3:16

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