Reflections for Living and Growing

By Webster Edwards

These reflections can be described as a personal journey, wrestling with varying experiences in order to gain some existential understanding of life.

They were written over a period of ten years during which time they were shared with a wide cross section of persons both in Jamaica and overseas.

The contents are varied, incorporating real life experiences, during which the author assumed the role of student, learning from the inexhaustible examples from persons who can be described as living at the margin of our society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Sep 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546292982

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 Webster Edwards. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  09/06/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9299-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9300-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9298-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910536

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

NIV New International Version

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family: My wife Valerie, for her selfless commitment to the growth and wellbeing of our family and our four sons. Webster Jnr., whose humility and sense of purpose continue to influence me, together with his fiancée Loraine;

Dr. Paul Edwards interventional cardiologist, an unpretentious, patient and compassionate person, and his wife Professor Sinee Disthabanchong -Edwards nephrologist, distinguished academician and writer.

Marc Edwards who defied the advice of his father by going to work in China and proving in the process that my then view of the world was far too limited, together with his wife Allana and daughter Samantha.

Brian Edwards, captain of one of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the A380, for demonstrating that hard work has its just rewards and for fulfilling one of the lifelong dreams of his father to be a passenger on an international flight piloted by him.

This book is dedicated to you all, with the hope that you might be inspired and in the process find the purpose and meaning that will help you celebrate life in all its fullness.

Acknowledgement

This publication would not have been possible without the persistent encouragement of my lifelong friend, Dr Roli Degazon Johnson a UN Consultant.

Roli not only prodded me, but provided a road map which guided me through the tortuous maze of publishing.

Second, no word of gratitude is enough for Frances Coke who painstakingly went through some 400 manuscripts and in the process entered into the mind of the writer capturing in the process the various nuances hopefully to make the book publishable.

By their presence in my life, the following persons have all contributed to my ability and desire to produce this book:

My Rotarian brothers and sisters who became members of my extended family and from whom I never cease to draw inspiration.

The late Hon. Reverend Dr. Hugh Sherlock O.J patriot and author of Jamaica’s national anthem, who as chairman of Operation Friendship, appointed me to head one of the largest social outreach programs in the Caribbean.

My colleagues at Operation Friendship who have assisted me in creating a place in the sun for our vulnerable young people from the challenging inner city communities.

Finally, I acknowledge the influence of all whom I have met on life’s journey, those who have inspired me and from whom I have learnt so much in the university of life.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Celebrate Life

A Brand-New Day

Life Is Good

Life Does Not Come with an Instructional Handbook

Life Is Like a Roller Coaster

This Is the Best Time to Be Alive

Rise and Shine!

Ours Is a Good World

Cultivate a Passion for Life

Goodbye, Rio

Celebrate Beauty Wherever You Find It

Celebrate Every Milestone

Light Up the World

Send the Fool a Little Farther

Make the Best out of Life

Broken Body, Deathless Spirit

Celebrate Life

Smile at Your Troubles

Christmas Brings New Hope

Where Is this Peace for which We Pray?

Remembering the Poor

New Beginnings

Face the Future Boldly

Look to the Future

Love This World Despite its Imperfections

Great Expectations

See the Possibilities

Make the Impossible Possible

Never Give up on Life

Where There Is a Will

Seize the Moment

Today Is All We Have

It’s a Bright, New Day

Life Is Not for the Faint-Hearted

Hold Fast to That Source

Make the Best of What Is

Embrace Reality

Painting on the Canvas of Life

There Are Many Detours in Life

Every Day Is Good

Live Today Well

Explore This Wonderful World

Simply the Best

Life Is Filled with Surprises

There Is Something Good in Every Day

See the Positives Instead

With a Little Bit of Luck

Accept Each Day as It Comes

Becoming Your Best Self

Tell Your Own Life Story

Know Where You Are Coming From

Begin by Loving Yourself

Acting Without Thinking

Look Beyond Physical Beauty

Looking Ahead

You Can Do It

The Magic of the Mind

The Debts That We Owe

Watch the Words That You Speak

Never Live Only for Today

I Don’t Know Me

Living Impulsively

Falling in Love with Oneself

Wishing Alone Is Futile

Learn to Say No

Bad Habits

Keep Looking Ahead

Watch Your Thoughts

Living Beyond Our Means

Wanting More and More

Don’t Defend the Indefensible

Leaving Your Footprints

Self-Knowledge

Freedom to Be

Beware the Pitfalls

Exercise Choices You Will Never Regret

You’ve Got to Strive

Making Bad Decisions

When Silence Is Preferable

Take Responsibility for the Direction of Your Life

In Pursuit of Happiness

Take a Look at Yourself

No Passion, No Excellence

Know Thyself

Be Guided by Basic Ideals

Don’t Be Misled by Shadows

Smile at Your Troubles

Tune Out the News

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Stop trying to Get Everyone to Like You

Excellence in All Things

Do Not Allow Other People to Think for You

Put Yourself in Overdrive

Don’t Expect to Reap Where You Have Not Sown

Three Friends in Life Are Hardly Possible

Failure - the Precursor to Success

Many Rivers to Cross

Failure, the Precursor to Success

Overcoming Our Problems

Life Is Not Always Fair

Facing the Challenges of Life

Living with Disappointments

Life Is Never Free from Problems

Keeping Hope Alive

Continue the Effort

Giving Up Should Never Be an Option

Focusing on That Goal

Be Inspired by the Goal

Dealing with Frustration

That Rugged Determination to Succeed

Success in the Midst of Misfortune

Beating the Challenges

Defy the Obstacles

You Will End Up Stronger

Life Goes On

The Night Is Darkest Just Before Dawn

Never Throw in the Towel

Life Is Not Always a Walk in The Park

From Despair to Hope

Rise Up from the Dust

Dealing with Failure

Perseverance Conquers All

A New Ray of Hope

Getting Things Wrong

Keep Going

Pick Yourself Up

Challenges Make Us Stronger

Yes, We Can Make It Through Our Difficulties

The Road Might Be Rough

Not an Easy Road

We All Make Mistakes

Joy Comes in the Morning

Never Give Up

Remain Positive, Even When Life Challenges

If You Are Failing, Take Heart

A Who Colt the Game?

Defeating Our Fears

Never Give up on Your Dreams

Surviving in a Gruelling World

Face All Challenges with Courage

Walk on Through the Storms of Life

Embrace Change

The Future Is Here

Tomorrow’s Aircraft Is Already Here

The A380—Awesome and Majestic; The Captain—My Son!

Change and Adaptation

Face the Future with Confidence

Opportunities to Live and Opportunities to Create

A New Literacy for a New World

Creating Our Own Jobs

Wanted: Creative Thinkers

The Only Certainty Is Change

If Doves Can be Trained….

Living in a Changing World

When Blackberry Was King

Coping with Change

The Constructive Use of Idle time

The Struggles of Tiger Woods

Be a Lifelong Learner

An Exciting New World

Are You on Facebook?

A New Day: New Experiences

Grasping Opportunities

Where Are the Possibilities?

Goodbye Facebook

Keep Learning

Never Be Afraid to Change

Our Changing World

The Importance of Risk-Taking

Opportunity Abounds

Being Stuck in the Past

Facing the Road that Lies Ahead

Fully Creative—Only as We Change

Let Change Be Part of Our Lives

Change or Perish

See the Possibilities Instead

Look Beyond Today

Leave the Baggage Behind

Venture Boldly into the Unknown

Embrace Change

Search for the Not Yet

Ambition, the Driving Force to Success

Be a Possibility Thinker

Opportunities Abound

The Ebbs and Flows of Life

Look Joyfully to the Future

Is Your World Too Small?

The Gift of Time

Time Waits for No One

Make Time Your Friend

Time Wasted Can Never Be Regained

Living in the Past

Wasted Opportunities

Finding Time to Do More

The New Illiterates

Procrastination and Opportunities Lost

Youth Is Not Perfect

Ageing Gracefully with Time

We too Must Rise and Move On

Make the World a Better Place

Beware of Success

Not Every Battle Is Worth Fighting

Choose Your Battles

When You Feel Tired, Rest

Striving for Balance

We Can Create Our Own World

Avoid Burnout

Achieving Real Contentment

Everyone Likes a Party

Take Time to Smell the Roses

The Danger of Always Being in a Hurry

Discovering Our Inner Resources

Forget the News

Thank God it’s Friday

Avoid Negativity

Add Charm to Life’s Experiences

Little Things Mean a Lot

Use It or You Will Lose It

Give Some People Power and Watch Them Display Their Bumptiousness

Popular Leaders Will Become Unpopular

The Pitfalls of Leadership

Leaders: Beware of Unguarded Talk

Problem, Initiative, Action

Keep Your Feet on the Ground

Advancement—at What Cost?

The Truly Great Are Truly Humble

Good Leaders

An Exemplary Leader

Morality and Governing

What Happens When the Big Man dies?

Leadership, Humility and Servanthood

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them (Isaiah 11:6 NIV)

Finding Meaning in the Context of Meaninglessness

We Need One Another

The Power of the Spoken Word

Creating a Culture of Honesty

Creating a Less Hostile Society

The Hopeless Search for a Honest Person

Sorry fi Maga Dog

Make This a Better World

Transmitting Timeless Values

The World Athletics Championships: The Joy Lingers

Our Challenging Young Men from the Kingston Inner-City

Balancing Rights with Responsibility

The Pain of Being Dissed

All Will Be Well

Boredom: The Curse of Our Times?

Small Gestures Can Have Big Meaning

Rich but Unhappy

On Helping Others

Good Manners, a Disappearing Art

Needed: A Moral Compass

Creating a Kinder, Gentler Society

Criticism Need Not Be Cruel

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Guided by the Golden Rule

Are You Addicted to the Cell Phone?

The Need for Tolerance

Creating a Culture of Punctuality

Have an Open Mind

Happiness Revisited

Living in a Polarised World

Be Daring and Passionate

Creating a More Humane Society

Celebrating Teachers

Let Us Light a Candle of Hope

One Person Can Make a Difference

What the World Needs Now

Let Your Goodness Flow

Out of Nothing Comes Nothing

Responsibility —A Missing Attribute

Listening to the Sound of Silence

Learning to Be

Parents Who Fail

Small Things, Major Consequences

Another Look at the NBA Saga

Be Like the Blotting Paper

Doing Good to Others

We Win Some, We Lose Some

No Act of Kindness Is Ever Wasted

Consequences Follow Our Every Action

Give Thanks

Those Tiny Pests

We Can Build the Future

Always Think of the Consequences

Why Do Good?

Be a Mirror to the World

Give Thanks; Make the Best of What You Have

On Being Lovable

Build a New World of Your Dreams

Don’t Worry About a Thing

Happiness Is Like a Shadow—Ever Fleeting

If You Live in a Glass House …

Live and Let Live

Focus on the Consequences

Work Need Not Be a Burden

There Is Dignity in Labour

Hard Work, Creativity and Diligence

After Work Comes Leisure

Overcoming Inertia

Practice Becomes Perfect

Hard Work: The Key to Success

The Challenge of Working Together

Don’t Diss the Smartphone

Work Smarter

Gaining a New Perspective

The Joy of Accomplishment

Time Means Money

Small Efforts, Great Results

Stop, Reflect, Re-Engage

Giving Public Service

Nothing Worth Having Comes Without Effort

Punctuality and Character Formation

Achieving Perfection

Jamaica, Land We Love; Land We Destroy

It’s Really the Vibes

When Jamaica Bedazzled the World

Never Ever Forget Your Roots

The Passion of Sir Alex Ferguson

Selfless Service

The Lost Opportunity

Working Together Cooperatively

Practice Makes Perfect

After University, What?

The Violence Continues

Champs and Its Life Lessons

The Joy of Giving

Jamaica’s World-Class Athletic Meet

Nobody Wants to Plant the Corn

Oh, What a Rat Race

Can’t Sleep?

Crime—Out of Control

Father’s Day?

Wasted Lives

We Need Fewer Teachers, not More

Finding One’s Place in the Sun

Education—Cause for Concern

Murdered at the Altar

The Magic of Jamaica

Celebrating Talent

Hail, Queen Tessanne

When Jamaica Led the World

Never Give Up

Striving Towards Excellence

Education and Youth Unemployment

English, not Singlish

The Importance of Discipline for a Well-Ordered Society

Try and Try; You’ll Succeed at Last

Whaa Gwaan?

The Power of One

The Impact of Names

Brand Jamaica or Damaged Goods?

Bad Words

Our Commercial Banks

Those Long Speeches

The Challenge of Illiteracy

It’s the Fight in the Dog that Counts

Media and Dancehall

Dancehall—Negative and Destructive

We All Have This Rhythm

When Long is Too Long

Against All Odds

Those Cartoons

The Challenge of Emancipation Day

Priceless National Treasures

Our Island in the Sun

References

About the Author

Reviews

Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie

Rev Webster Edwards’s Reflections are powerful, and force the reader to ponder, praise and pray. We ponder our being: our thoughts, our use of time, our attitudes, values, our lives and experience, our "island in the sun; the ups and the downs, the fortunes and misfortunes, the mountain-top experiences, and those moments that plunge us into the depths." We consider the importance of persistence and perseverance, even in the face of overwhelming difficulty, which is a thread running through all the Reflections.

We give praise and thanks for the passions that drive us and the challenges that force us to pursue success despite the odds; "when you have found true beauty, hold it close to your heart; let it be a companion on life’s journey, comforting and inspiring you on the road that lies ahead."

We pray as we follow Rev Edwards’s injunction: "hold fast to the source from which you derive your strength." This strength is needed to face the uncertain future with minds open to change and the creativity and passion to identify and pursue new exciting opportunities and possibilities for ourselves, our nation and the world.

We are inspired by this volume which is an invaluable source of motivation and guidance.

Retired Pro Vice Chancellor and Professor Emerita

University of the West Indies

Kingston, Jamaica

Dr. Rolande Degazon-Johnson

Nothing delighted me more than to read Reflections for Living and Growing by Reverend Dr. Webster Edwards! It is a book for which I have been waiting a long time! Over the years these beautifully written messages of wisdom, reassurance and hope have become spiritual support helping me equally through difficult times as well as through joy and success.

A few years ago I realised that I wished – not for a virtual message on my computer – but to hold in my hand a hard copy of the profound voice of this seasoned, experienced, mature and mighty counsellor for posterity and to be reminded of his philosophy. Reflections has lessons for us all, and the sheer breadth of Rev. Edward’s focus tells us as much of the man as it does of his message.

From Termites symbolizing our destructive habits to a Domino game reflecting the need for Caution, Edwards exhibits his capacity to analyse and extricate a philosophy of life from simple features of the socio-cultural environment in which he works so as to provide a universal vision for a better world. As the reader roams through the image of Blotting Paper - now practically extinct - proposed as the means by which the human species can absorb, grow and deepen its experience to a rare moment of fatherly delight when his son – an aircraft captain – welcomed him on board the flight he was piloting, the reader can both identify and embrace the author’s humility as well as his expansive humanity. At last……a wonderful book to restore our souls and enrich our lives!

UN Consultant

Major General Rocky Meade

Reflections for Living and Growing is template for daily living. Throughout the collection, the author takes simple everyday maxims and transforms them into a roadmap for daily life. In a world of turmoil, the book offers the reader an opportunity for reflection and meditation. It takes the reader on an introspective journey, at the end of which he or she is better equipped to address the harsh realities of life, with the conviction that if we have hope and work hard, there will always be a better tomorrow. The real-life examples drawn from football, athletics, music, politics, underscore some critical truths which will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. The dedication of an entire chapter focusing on the many issues facing Jamaica and its people and offering perspectives on how each citizen can contribute to achieving significant change in Jamaica, Land we Love, is particularly poignant. I highly recommend this unforgettable collection.

Chief of Defense Staff

Jamaica Defense Force

Up Park Camp, Kingston

Jamaica

Revd Dr. Lesley G. Anderson

REFLECTIONS FOR LIVING AND GROWING by Webster Edwards is a superb book of 406 pages, comprised of 7 chapters and references.  This book makes excellent reading and will certainly excite the mind of the reader, for it is a book for everyone, without distinction of sex, race, colour, creed, religion or nationality.  The author shares with us what are our indispensable attributes for living a meaningful existence (p.229).   Readers will immerse themselves in reading page after page words of wisdom interwoven with humour, poems, quotations and/or illustrations from the lives of some illustrious personalities such as: Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley, Baroness Margaret Thatcher, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Pope Francis, and others.  A few of the reflections are contextualized in Jamaica, but not isolated to Jamaica, as each reflection is applicable to all persons.

The author in this heart warming, formidable, must-have jewel of a book, has provided his readers with a wealth of positives, with lessons to learn about living, appreciating, and celebrating a joyful life on earth, in spite of the daily difficult challenges many persons face.   The clear message of the book is this: do not give up on life, for life is worth living.  What makes this book different from others, is that in reading it, the reader will get the feeling that it was especially written for her or him with a new perspective on how to appreciate life, and this is what catapults this book above others of a similar genre.

I highly commend the author for providing this generation and beyond with a book that will enable persons to enjoy and appreciate life on earth now!!! This is certainly a fascinating, challenging, inspirational, thoughtful and passionate book about life and living it to the fullest that ought to be on the shelf of institutional libraries, worldwide. 

Former President

United Theological College of the West Indies

Kingston, Jamaica

Celebrate Life

If we celebrate life with all its contradictions, embrace experience, and ultimately live with it, a chance exists for a spiritual life filled not only with pain and untidiness, but also with joy, community, and creativity.

(Jensen, n.d.)

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A Brand-New Day

It’s a brand-new day. It comes with all its problems, but with unbounded opportunities to make the best of life.

It brings opportunities for loving, opportunities for doing, and opportunities for making the world a much better place in which to live.

Deciding what to make of the opportunities is within our grasp. We can use them prudently for our own advancement.

So, stop complaining about what should have been, and see the opportunities which are embedded in this very moment of time.

Confound the naysayers; opportunities abound; it is a good time in which to live.

See today as an entirely new page on the journey of life.

Make the best of it; give thanks, while realising your good fortune in being chosen to inhabit this amazing world.

Life Is Good

Life is good,