Frasier Crane & Friends
Thursday, December 4, 2025
“Fear always dismantles faith and blocks you from your destiny.” – Os Hillman
I was watching an old episode of Frasier the other day, which is one of my favorite sit-coms. In this particular episode, Frasier was encouraging everyone around him – his father, Martin; his brother, Niles; his father’s physical therapist, Daphne; and his radio show producer, Roz – to take more chances in life.
Quoting John Greenleaf Whittier, a 19th century poet and abolitionist, Frasier reminded his friends and family, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.’”
Inspired by his words (or perhaps guilted by them), Martin, Niles, Daphne, and Roz all decide to take a risk… and when they do, it blows up in their respective faces. Marty has a near-fatal airplane flight, Roz’s date turns out to be with a married man, and Daphne’s new hairstyle looks like she stuck her finger in an electric socket. I forget what happened to Niles, but it was equally disastrous.
As for Frasier, he was planning to sing a difficult aria on a telethon but gets cold feet at the last minute and decides to repeat a past performance of “Buttons and Bows” from the 1948 movie Paleface, starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell. However, because he had failed to rehearse his little ditty, he bombs miserably in front of a live TV audience.
We can laugh at the consequences of Frasier & Co’s risk-taking, which is exactly what the screenwriters wanted us to do when they penned the plot. However, we shouldn’t allow a sit-com – or anything else, for that matter – to dissuade us from walking by faith as we follow God’s direction.
Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith” and not one of the people included in that passage – Noah, Abraham, Moses, et al – got there by cowering in fear. Sure, there were times when they questioned God and even failed Him, but when push came to shove, they acted in faith and God rewarded them for doing so.
My friend, may we be counted among those less timid souls who take spiritual risks for God’s glory, walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
