Stafford W. Edwards

Here is a thought. Memories are anchored in the past, companion us in the present, and are undiscovered strangers from the future. They span timelines and seasons, evoke a myriad of emotions and have the capacity to either strengthen or destabilize our equilibrium. Their effects have been known to be potent, voracious, fractious, calming, encouraging, exhausting and at times even hard to manage, but they are synonymous with the essence of our core natures and are an integral ...element of who we are. They thread through our lives allowing us to relive moments captured in time. Sometimes we gain a sense of peace and assurance from them, while at other times we feel distraught or emotionally depleted under their weight. This however is not inherently a bad thing, because they reveal our humanity; a position from which we far too often abdicate, and a truth we regularly deny ourselves, by dismissing our inalienable right to feel, mourn, hope and yes, remember. Memories remind us of the mutable nature of time, and although we are subject to its unerring passage, we are not beholden to its passing. So I choose to remember, to be mindful of those precious times from the past which were not always considered carefully then, but which are so treasured now in the present. It has been 24 years since some of the more impactful memories have been indelibly branded in my mind, and I have learned something important in the interim. Don’t live each moment of your life as if it’s your last, but live it as if it’s your first. Always fresh, always new, always pregnant with gratitude, promise and eternal hope. So I choose to revel in the memories of my son, not only on this day but everyday. Because in the reality of any given moment, they render gentle support in my continued hope for a future reunion. Isaac Winston Edwards Sep 23rd 1996 April 29th 1998 #WritingCommunity #Ottawa #encouragement #balance #perspective #intentionality #grief #mourning #healing #mentalhealth #life #hope #memories #remembrance #innerstrength #reconciliation #future #eternity

Come and check out an incredible story of resilience, hope and rescue! Starting online at MyChurch Ottawa - 10am here on Facebook

First spring buds of 2020. They offered incentive to go for a power walk on this gorgeous day. Funny thing: before attempting power walks muscles first need to be warmed up. Who knew! Oh, and to add to this revelation, brain cells which have atrophied during an extended Canadian Winter tend to forget the body also needs to ease into any sort of rigorous training regimen after a time of inactivity. ... Well I now have my left Hip Flexor to thank for the intense level of pain 7.5km of power walking have generated. Noseriously, I am not allergic to pain. Really. #totallymyfault #excercise #writershealth #writingcommunity #motivation

Elements of Growth. What are the must-have nutrients for acquiring and sustaining a healthy perspective about yourself? Should these be organic in nature or structured? To ensure proper stewardship, should they be sourced and maintained by you, or by others?

So, it’s 72 hours into 2020 & your declared resolutions have not yet materialized. Remember: - obstacles can be opportunities... - setbacks can reveal hidden strength - self-reproach melts around those who love & support you You have value & purpose no matter what situations you find yourself in or what circumstances you face. #writingcommunity #purpose #vision #findingyourvoice

2019 is coming to a close. For some it has been a challenging year. I wish you all a peaceful season & a new year of hope. I pray for a miracle or two, so you’ll be encouraged to see and recognize your value as a person, no matter where you have been or what you are facing. https://buff.ly/2tPWhxJ

30. Three Zero. Thirty years. A trifecta of life changing decades of which I can only give thanks to God for. ... Today being the 30th anniverasry of marriage to Michele Edwards Thank's hon for accepting me with all of my inherent quirks, flaws and idiosyncrasies. The fact that I have been graced with your unconditional love for this length of time is almost beyond my ability to comprehend. Here is to another 30+ years! :) https://contrails.swedwards.com/3zero

Travelling back in my time stream, I recall being more motivated by style than by substance. So long as I looked good (leather ties and bold sweaters were a thing back then), had food in my stomach, a roof over my head and a cadre of friends to hang out with, then all was well. Full Article: https://contrails.swedwards.com/looking-back-on-the-future/

Milestones & Memories. When smiling takes more effort than pulling a train by hand. https://contrails.swedwards.com/milestones-memories/ #Family #hope #healing #reconciliation #remembrance #Ottawa

Hi Folksa long overdue status update on the progress of my manuscript has been posted. Please check it out. Thanks! :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLhZINtLO1A

Each day brings new opportunities, new vistas, new mercies. Just a reminder: we do not have to go it alone. There is strength in Community. Lamentations 3:22-23 #Ottawa #Renewal #Hope #Sonship

Finding myself in need of creative motivation, I took a step back in history, and considered William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s 10th and longest-serving prime minister. I imagined him sitting at his (now) antique desk and typewriter, allowing his thoughts to flow through to his fingers. He chose to regularly remove himself from the ever-pressing requirements of his political office, in order to gain repose and be refreshed. Many an hour were spent in this room located on h...is private estate, where he brought his thoughts into submission. This intentional and restorative habit, intrinsically laid the formative foundations for his legacy. When you find yourself thirsting for the moisture of creative release, or feel lost in the doldrums of ineffectiveness, do not despise your seemingly inadequate efforts. Even those errant failures and frustrations lubricate the one thing which constantly encapsulates who you are. Your voice. It is unique, and no one else can express or communicate like you do. So write, sing, paint, draw, speak knowing your words or any other outlets of expression have value and do matter. #Ottawa #encouragement #writing

There are some days when we feel small and insignificant. When problems seem like giants blocking our path to joy and peace. Just remember, the (Son)light always provides peace and reveals your true value and strength! The tiny clouds of inconvenience cannot compare to the blessings that surround, shelter and sustain us on a daily basis. Matthew 11:28 (TPT) - Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.

So it’s the end of another work week. What have you done with your hands (or heart, or mind) that has influenced someone who was unable to lift theirs? Have they been a source of strength, comfort, security, or hope, in someone’s abusive / abrasive / lonely / desperate environment? If you have been blessed this week, keep your hands open so your blessing can flow through your fingers to those still wandering in dry and weary lands.... Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Reminiscing about my flight training days in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. A couple of eons ago, I was based out of this airport, CYNJ (Langley Regional). Recalling nerve-racking flight exams out of CYXX (Abbotsford) and CYVR (Vancouver) has provided unexpected material for my current manuscript. Who knew sweating through intense flight training all those years ago would augment this writing opportunity. ... #writingcommunity #flight #Abbotsford #Langley #strollingdownmemorylane #Canada

You cannot curate or catalogue the process of grief and mourning. Each person grieves in their own way. The pain of the loss of a loved one does not end, but its intensity can alleviate over time. The person in whom you invested your love has left a hole in your heart; a hole which outlines their shape; their memories; their life; their legacy. Do not let anyone try to tell you to get over that.

Attitude Adjustments. Sometimes challenging - always necessary.

If you have been watering the dark night of your soul with your tears for a while, be encouraged. There is a dawn breaking that will reveal the verdant expanse of your long awaited release.

The view from seat 1C on a recent flight on an Air Canada CRJ200 jet. (No, first row seats on a CRJ200 are NOT first class. Believe me). However this seat position allowed me to reflect on trust, as I watched the flight crew prepare the complex aircraft for departure. Who do you trust when navigating the complexities of life? Yourself, or those specially trained to do so? Also do not shut out those closest to you who are compassionate enough to recognize you are not meant to go through life in isolation; especially when dealing with the things life can throw at us. #mentalhealth #coping #friendship #trust

Hump Day Heuristics. Wednesday...the median point of the work week. The virtual fulcrum of anticipating the weekend. So here is a random query: How are your feet? (i.e. how is your balance?) Without proper care it’s very difficult to walk or maintain equilibrium. Same goes for our thought processes. Endeavour to wear proper shoes for your mind as well. :)

So, how do you see yourself? Or a better question may be, how CAN you see yourself? How can you truly ascertain who you are, and identify your intrinsic value?

When the thought processes necessary to get some writing accomplished start to feel like a zombified version of Groundhog Day....it’s time to grab some me time. For this particular escape... Grandson #2 to the rescue!

Sowhere, or what is your happy place? I was fortunate to experience one of mine recently when I visited my parents out west for a few days. While once a year is never enough to be with family, it was made all the sweeter when served Ackee & Salt Fish, Johnny Cakes and a side of bacon for breakfast! You cannot get more Jamaican/Canadian than this! :) Wellunless you chase it with beer, poutine and beaver tails while ice fishing. :)

You awaken to a new day, like you have done a thousand days before. You sit up and reflect on your night’s sleep. There is a lingering yearning to crawl back under the sheets. They represent a safe place, because when you are asleep, the troubles and pressures you navigate during your waking moments, are for a time, temporarily held at bay. Ironically, or maybe even maliciously, those same life pressures seem to have an excellent on-time arrival record, whenever your eyes ope...n from a night’s slumber. Now awake, you are faced with a choice. Shrink back from the looming, dark rain clouds which were waiting patiently for your mind to begin another day of struggle; or do you stare them down until they release their moisture unto the parched ground of your worry, regret, or disillusionment. Courage always looks for the faint of heart, because they are fertile ground, waiting to be watered into hope. It is also Courage’s nature to use the very things which would see us intimidated, by revealing, extracting and refining them into the true mettle and value of who we are meant to be. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed II Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV

Seeing The Sky For The Mountains. Spoiler Alert: Both have value! :)

Ruts are impressions made under pressure. A wagon wheel or automobile’s tire has weight, and will leave indentations on pliable surfaces. If you find yourself in a rut, it may reveal you are carrying a weighty and unhealthy belief system. Foundational mindsets or thought processes may be forged when landscapes of pain or emotional upheaval have been traversed. This may cause you to be susceptible to unwanted external forces being applied at the time. The more toxic your persp...ective becomes, the more give there is in your condition to those forces. As a result, we can become rigidly stuck in our perceived understanding of what is going on, in and around us. So, to combat this rigidity, we need to find a release valve. Desert Dune Buggies normally reduce tire pressures to attain better grip when driving in sand. How do you release pressure, to see more clearly, travel through life with more sure-footedness, and avoid being constrained to just one way of assessing a situation? I am on this journey as well, so please share your thoughts in the comments. :)

A principle that can (or should) be applied to all aspects of our lives, especially those which challenge us to become who we were created to be.

What if you throw your whole self into something and it seems to lead to nothing? All that effort and you end up not doing what you wanted to do? Consider this; it is not a waste. It may be the thing needed for that next thing along your journey. The ultimate prize! Keep following your #passion and #dreams

Intentional Discomfort - A somewhat strange and wonderful personal path to encouraging others. https://contrails.swedwards.com/purposeful-discomfort

Well, you made it to Friday folks! Hoping your weekend follow-through allows for a time of rest and recalibration from any of this week's intensity. :)

The intoxicating aroma of receiving value from someone. If you are celebrating all that is love, affection and (com)passion today, remember not to kiss off showing the same on the remaining 364.25 days of the year. Your expression of those edifying elements are just as important throughout the whole year. ... Probably even more so than just one special day! #Valentines

The option for letting in a spot of fresh air is rather limited at the moment! #Ottawa #Canada #winter #nuffsaid

A few earlier pre-winter storm thoughts. Exploring The Unexpected.

Just a few things in the pipeline on this page. Chain Lube and Scented Oils are not (necessarily) Kissing Cousins! Yes, you have it in you - Surprise!... Mom Knows Best! The Mirrors Edge! - Objects in The Mirror are closer than they appear! Stay Tuned! :)

Hi Folks! I trust your week went well. A big thanks to all who visited and liked my new Facebook page. There will be much more content in the coming days and weeks. Just adding another source to the other channels of information related to my upcoming book - http://contrails.ca ... My plan is to make regular postings. This is getting real! Thanks again! :)

Thank you for your kind support folks. This has been brewing for a couple of years, and is now gaining traction. I am looking forward to sharing the process with all of you.

Welcome Everyone! Allow me to introduce my first book, Contrails; slated to be published later this year. For your convenience, you may also follow my escapades on Twitter - @ContrailsAuthor and Instagram - @ContrailsBook. The writing process has certainly taken me outside a few of my comfort zones. All in all, not necessarily a bad thing, as the content of the book provides a few helpful insights into navigating similar aspects of life in general.... For a synopsis of the book, please visit http://contrails.ca. I will be posting updates, and anecdotes throughout the process of getting my manuscript ready for public consumption. I would love to have you join me as this adventure unfolds..