A life already started
Meet the Author behind A life already started
Who am I?
My name is Megan Best. I am lots of different people, like everyone else. I am a wife and mother. I am a doctor and an ethicist. I am a lobbyist and a quiltmaker, among other things.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in several places, but mainly in country NSW, and I still think of myself as someone from the country, even though I have lived in Sydney for most of the last 30 years.
When you were a teenager what did you spend your spare time doing?
Music was at the centre of my life, singing in the school choir and playing the piano. I went in lots of eisteddfods. I also spent a lot of time reading everything I could get my hands on. I have always loved learning new things.
Most embarrassing moment from when you were at school?
I think sitting in front of a piano with no music on a stage with no idea what the first note was that I had to play. That's what you get for trying to play from memory.
How did you become a Christian?
As I was growing up I went to Sunday school and youth group, but it was not until I left university that I became a Christian. I was working in a hospital with cancer patients my age who were dying, and decided I needed to know what life was all about. I joined a Bible study group, but it was not until I learned about the Holy Spirit that I understood that God knows we can't be perfect and gives us the spirit to change when we trust in Jesus. That's when I realised he loves us just as we are.
Favourite Bible story and why?
I love the description of the new earth in Revelation 21 which has no more death or mourning or crying or pain, where God will wipe every tear from our eyes. I love it because I see so much tragedy in this life—it is good to know that one day it will all pass away.
Where and what did you study?
I went to six different schools, then I studied medicine at Newcastle University. I also have degrees in theology, palliative care and ethics and I am working on a research degree and a PhD at the University of Sydney. That sounds like a lot when I make a list, but I am loving being back at uni studying again.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I work as a palliative care doctor in Sydney. I look after people who have terminal illness and will die soon. It's a very rewarding job and I love it. I also teach at a couple of universities. Then I have my interest in ethics, where I teach and write about ways of working out right from wrong in medical matters.
Do you have any other areas of interest?
I love craft and gardening in my herb garden, having friends over for a meal at our place, hanging out with my family, music, movies, reading and being somewhere where the internet doesn't work.
What was your motivation for writing this book?
I was asked to write it for Youthworks, as they knew I was passionate about protecting the lives of unborn children. Unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming, but I want anyone in that situation to know that they are not alone and they will make it through.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I think understanding what young people know about these issues and what they wish they knew. I wanted the book to be relevant. I had great help from my children and their friends, without whom I wouldn't have known what to write about.
Something that God that taught you recently?
To remember that he is trustworthy and will never let us down. That we can take risks for him and he will be there for us.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I would like them to think about the big picture regarding the purpose of sex in God's eyes, not just what the world teaches about momentary pleasure. Sleeping around for fun is bad for us in so many ways. We are so valuable in God's eyes; it must break his heart to see how badly we treat our bodies sometimes. The consequences of our actions are huge— I talk about it in the book, but the first step is respecting ourselves and saving sex for the one we want to spend the rest of our lives with. And it's much easier to work out who that is if you're not sleeping with them.