Author: Roger Edwards

Prepare For Christmas – Zechariah

The first ‘fear not’ visitation was the Archangel Gabriel’s visit to the priest Zechariah announcing that his prayer – his decades-long prayer for a child had been heard. The news, designed to bring ‘joy and delight’ to Zechariah, first produced fright. So what’s up with that? Why the scare? Do you have to be off-balance – in order to receive good news? I can relate to Gabriel’s mission. As a boy, if I knew my older sister was going into our unfinished basement, say to get something from the freezer, I would… Continue reading Prepare For Christmas – Zechariah

Prepare For Christmas

  Three angelic visits occasion the birth of Christ. Three times, heaven touches down upon the earth. Three times, the earth tilts awkwardly under the weight of glory. Three times, the witnesses are thrown off-balance. And that is how you prepare for Christmas. You begin the journey to Christmas – not by getting your bearings – but by losing them.  The three visits are as dreadful as they are fascinating. First, Gabriel appeared to Zechariah while he was burning incense in the temple to tell him of the coming birth of John… Continue reading Prepare For Christmas

Adam’s First Feeling

“…every instant of conscious life is an unimaginable prodigy.” GK Chesterton   If you watched me closely, you might conclude that I don’t like surprises – even pleasant ones. If complimented, I stiffen my facial muscles to conceal my pleasure. If life is good, I comment upon it more like an observer than a participant. “Yes – nice weather.” “I had a good weekend.” I manage conversations with practiced protocols – predictions of your part and repetitions of my part – lest the interchange open me up. Yes, if you… Continue reading Adam’s First Feeling

Self-Control – Vegetable of the Spirit? No.

  The fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5. They all seem sweet-tasting – except for one. The first three, ‘love’, ‘joy’, ‘peace’ all sound like what you want to experience, but the last one, ‘self-control’, does not. Self-control seems more like ‘the vegetable of the spirit’. Perhaps the turnip. But in the long run, self-control is the most refreshing fruit. Self-control ‘re-freshens’ your person. It gives you back to you. The common reaction to ‘self-control’ is that you ‘have’ to do things you don’t want to do.… Continue reading Self-Control – Vegetable of the Spirit? No.

Never Talked to a Mere Mortal

  “You have never talked to a mere mortal.”  {Full quote is at the end of this post} This CS Lewis quote disturbs me. It confronts me, wrenching a hazy ‘idea’ of immortality from the back of my head and thrusting it tangibly in front of me – on my neighbor’s face. Immortality, it seems, has a nose. Immortality has eyes. My neighbor is an immortal. I try to stay disturbed. I try not to run from it, holding that quote in mind, ‘I have never talked to a mere… Continue reading Never Talked to a Mere Mortal

Marriage Thermostat

  “It’s cold in here,” I say. “No, it’s about right,” my wife replies, “You just came in. You’re not regulated.” I mumble, “I know my own skin.” I am convinced that the temperature is all wrong. Intolerable, in fact. I check the thermostat for vindication. “68 -72 is the comfort zone,” I cite the American Journal of HVAC – a line I’ve used before.   Jean repeats her standard line, “Yes, but the thermostat is placed wrong. You’ll warm up…just wait.” “Hmmpfh,” I politely emit (snort), my nose inches… Continue reading Marriage Thermostat

Seeing Things As They Really Are

  When Adam awoke to life, he saw things as they really are. He saw gifts. The daffodil at his feet? An unexpected yellow surprise, delicate and bright. Bending closer – he would be startled by its airy fragrance. Perhaps this was the moment when Adam first learned to sniff. And upon sniffing, Adam further discovered, in cross-eyed astonishment, that he possessed a nose. “What a happy fellow I am,” he might have thought, “that I am given this thing… this instrument of pleasure, situated just-so upon my face so… Continue reading Seeing Things As They Really Are

Money Can’t Buy Me Love

. I’ll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright I’ll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright ‘Cause I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love Can’t buy me love, love Can’t buy me love The Beatles: Can’t Buy Me Love, March 1964   Money can’t buy love. We know because we’ve tried. It is our  life-experiment and each time it fails. We’ve paid for good meals, but the date still turned bad. We’ve bought the… Continue reading Money Can’t Buy Me Love

Typical Date Night

My wife (Jean) and I often go out for a “date night.”  It is one way we stay connected. So here’s how a typical date night goes: Spouse 1: “Do you want to get in a date night this week?” Spouse 2: “Sure – well – do you?” Spouse 1: “Yes.. don’t you?” Not exactly a roaring start. Even after 31 years together – we are still shy – does she really want to spend time with me? Then the appointed evening arrives.  As we drive out of the driveway,… Continue reading Typical Date Night

Admitting Depression

. When I am depressed – I admit it in a straight forward manner. “I’m a little down. Well, sorta… a little. But it’s better today.” People don’t know what to do with such bold confession. Some will venture a question, “What are you feeling?” “Oh, you know,” I say. They look at me, “No, I don’t.” “It’s just been stressful, that’s all. I’m just tired – not sleeping all that well. It will pass.” “How long?” I am getting a little irritable from their incessant questions. But I answer,… Continue reading Admitting Depression