By the Rev. Dr. Ed Hird

Who can figure out this mysterious, intangible reality called ‘love’?  It won’t show up under a microscope, an ultrasound, or a CT Scan.  But most of us know in our heart of hearts that love is real and love matters deeply.  Without love, something dies inside.  With love, something miraculously comes alive.

In the mid-1970’s, my wife and I were part of a soft rock band called ‘Morning Star’ which played for five years throughout BC.  We were also part of a concert promotion group entitled ‘LivingStone Productions’.  One of our favorite rock musicians that we brought in to the Queen E Theatre was the late Larry Norman, the father of GodRock.  One of his songs ‘I Love You, I Love You, I Love You’ impacted us so deeply that my sister and future brother-in-law sang it to each other at our wedding.

“We can be together now and forever
I love you, I love you
Hey, can you hear me, I’ve got to have you near me
I love you, I love you
I was lonely till you came along
Now you’ve got me singing your love song
I love you, I love you, I love you….”

It is not enough to sing a love song once at one’s wedding.  We need to re-sing it every day in a thousand ways.  After 41 years of marriage, I have learnt that love needs to ‘have legs’.  Love needs to be practical.  Love is taking out the garbage.  Love is driving the kids to school .  Love is doing the dishes when you are feeling exhausted.

The Good Book says that it is not good for man to be alone.  I too can sing ‘I’ve got to have you near me…I was lonely till you came along’.  A loving marriage is a gift beyond description, a gift of intimacy, caring, and hope.  God knew what he was doing when he invented the miracle of marriage.

“Life is a mystery, love is a dancer
I love you, I love you
I had a question, you brought the answer
I love you I love you
Oh but I need you so
I could never let you go
I love you, I love you, I love you…”

No one can figure out love.  It just is, or it just isn’t.  Love brings a contentment that makes no sense.  Love is stronger than death.  Thirty-three years later I realize more than ever how deeply I need my wife, how much she calls forth the best in me and our children.  My wife, to put it frankly, is irreplaceable.

“I was lonely once but then you came along
And you gave me love so I wrote down this song
I wanna spend my life with you like the angels on high
You’re the morning star, you’re the Son in my sky.
I love you, I love you, I love you…”

All of Larry Norman’s music pointed to Love beyond love, Life beyond life, Hope beyond hope.  My wife and I have discovered again and again that the heart of our marriage is Love, the love of God found in Jesus Christ.  May each of us discover the heart of love, the morning star, the Son in the sky.

The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, BSW, MDiv, DMin

-previously published in the North Shore News/Deep Cove Crier

-award-winning author of the book Battle for the Soul of Canada

P. S. Click this Amazon link to view for free the first two chapters of our new novel Blue Sky.

“I’m afraid there’s been an accident…”

Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.

Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…

A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.

Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?

Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.

If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or  kindle.

-Click to check out our marriage book For Better For Worse: discovering the keys to a lasting relationship on Amazon. You can even read the first two chapters for free to see if the book speaks to you.

-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form.  Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.

In Canada, Amazon.ca has the book available in paperback and ebook. It is also posted on Amazon UK (paperback and ebook), Amazon France (paperback and ebook), and Amazon Germany (paperback and ebook).

Restoring Health is also available online on Barnes and Noble in both paperback and Nook/ebook form.  Nook gives a sample of the book to read online.

Indigo also offers the paperback and the Kobo ebook version.  You can also obtain it through ITunes as an IBook.

To receive a signed copy within North America, just etransfer at ed_hird@telus.net, giving your address. Cheques are also acceptable.

-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca 

Indigo also offers the paperback and the Kobo ebook version.  You can also obtain it through ITunes as an IBook.

-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca

To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.