The condition is
called ‘spasmodic dysphonia’ . It was caused by a rare viral throat
infection which happens statistically to one in five million people, something
like winning the lottery in reverse. Spasmodic Dysphonia causes the vocal
chords to overadduct (overshut) on a spasmodic or intermittent basis, cutting
off words or parts of sentences. Spasmodic Dysphonia is not caused by stress,
but sometimes is more noticeable under stress.
During those eighteen months, I read sixty books on public
speaking and writing. It taught me so
much about clarity and focus, giving me a passion to communicate, making the
most of what I had.
On May 25th 1982, I had surgery at VGH by Dr.
Murray Morrison in a successful operation that allowed me to speak again and go
back preaching after being off for a year. My GP thought that I would never
preach again, and he would have been correct, except for having had this
surgery. They cut the left laryngeal nerve of the left vocal chord, which
stopped the adducting/shutting of that chord. As the right chord still
overadducted/overshut, it balanced out. After my surgery, my voice was free of
the spasms, but was initially much quieter and more breathy.
From 1982 to 1987, I served as the assistant priest at St.
Matthew’s Abbotsford. As Abbotsford was a bible belt, they had a spiritual
column in the local newspaper which I began to write in. Around 80,000 people read my columns, giving
me significant feedback, mostly positive.
People have said to me for years that I should write books. They also
encouraged me to get my doctorate.
From 1982 to 1987, I served as the assistant priest at St.
Matthew’s Abbotsford. As Abbotsford was a bible belt, they had a spiritual
column in the local newspaper which I began to write in. Around 80,000 people read my columns, giving
me significant feedback, mostly positive.
People have said to me for years that I should write books. They also
encouraged me to get my doctorate.
In 1987, I became the Rector of St. Simon’s North Vancouver. The local Deep Cove Crier newspaper asked me in
1988 if I would start up a spiritual column.
Little did I know that I would still be writing for this monthly newspaper
twenty-six years later. I was also
privileged to co-ordinate a weekly ‘Spiritually Speaking’ column for the North
Shore News from the years 2,000 to 2010.
With well over 300 articles published, God helped me develop my passion
for writing. People kept encouraging me
to write another book. In 2006, Battle
for the Soul of Canada was written, receiving an award from The Word
Guild. I was privileged to be
interviewed about my book and the Anglican situation on most major Canadian TV,
radio and newspaper stations.
I have been working for the past number of years writing the
sequel book on Titus ‘Restoring Health: Body, Mind and Spirit’. During that time, I finished my Doctor of
Divinity on the area of Strengthening Marriage: Bridging Emotional Cutoff. With what I have learned about writing from
the Write! Canada conferences and The Word Guild, it enabled me to finish my part-time
doctorate in just four years. A huge
part of finishing a doctorate is writing numerous essays, including a final 300-page
Doctoral Thesis.
With the growth of social media and the internet, over
635,000 people have read my four hundred articles online. Writing and communication is continually to
be radically impacted by the hi-tech revolution. Nothing is remaining static.
Through extensive coaching with Dr. Terry Walling, I have
mapped my potential next six books, using the umbrella concept “Strengthening a
new generation of healthy leaders’.
Losing my voice helped me find my writing voice. Everything that is against us can be turned
by Jesus to our advantage. While God did
not give me spasmodic dysphonia, I am grateful that God has brought much good
from this trauma over the years.
The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, Rector
