If I were to build a bridge, I wouldn't reach for a kite as my first tool. But Charles Ellet Jr. is a better engineer than me. The time is 1848 and the place is the Niagara gorge. Those who wander north from the famous falls will eventually come to the whirlpool rapids. As the name suggests, this is a section of the river inhospitable to boats or bridges. But as I mentioned, Charles Ellet is a good engineer.

The dictionary defines the word “dare”, as having the boldness to venture a risk. In other words, a dare doesn’t assume certainty, but holds a question mark. Will your investments make a lucrative return? Will your proposal be approved? Are you sure your novel idea will work? Life is filled with dares, and faith is one of them.

My wife and I decided we wanted another heartbeat in the house. Age, energy and strata rules narrowed our choices, so we decided on a bird. Not just any feathered friend. We wanted a song bird. We had a canary years ago and welcomed the soft tuneful sounds. So we scoured the stores and came home with a bright red canary we dubbed “Chip.”

Preachers should choose their sermons carefully. The words have a way of becoming real. Since God knows that you don’t learn to ride a bicycle in theory, He has a habit of putting preachers into the content of their messages. 

Back in 2017, my wife and I spent the year apart. I was helping a church in Regina and Miriam’s family obligations held her here. So, we took a deep breath, trusted God’s leading and agreed to a commuting arrangement where I was home 3 days each month. 

Twenty years ago, Miriam and I were gifted with a trip to Israel. It was and is memorable for me. Bustling markets with haggling merchants. The whiplash of driving from the high-rises of Tel Aviv to camels and bedouins in the desert. Bobbing by moonlight in the Dead Sea. Ascending Masada. It’s a journey you may have made and one I wish everyone could.

I’ve done this 65 times, so you’d think I would be proficient by now. For 65 years I have celebrated the Christmas season. Granted, the first few times, I was pretty much unaware. But it didn’t take me long to figure out that this season is special.

We all suffer from a Christmas disadvantage. I’m not talking about our ways or means to celebrate the season, but our position and perspective. All of us look back to the first Christmas. To celebrate Christmas, we remember what has already happened.

I know everyone I meet. Friend or stranger, older or younger, regardless of gender, ethnicity, language or culture - I already know them. You do too. Of course, there are differences among us and each is unique in their own identity, still on a basic level, we know each other.

I started playing Christmas music this week. If you knew me well, you’d be surprised. Frankly it’s not my favourite genre. I don’t refer to the grand church music which declares joyous news. But the ditties of the season echoed in the malls, bounce off me.