In the Wake of the New Year

The holidays are complete! Is this a relief or a time of sadness? For me, it’s honestly a time of relief this year. I am happy to be in the wake of the New Year. However, this realization is sad to me. When did I come to dread holidays? I’m determined to make the holidays next year a time of joy, celebration, and reflection on Christ taking on flesh to save me from my sins. The fruit of this goal can begin to grow now as I reflect not just on the recent holidays, but also on the last year and the year to come.

2007 held so many events for Liz and I from several cross county trips (one by car) to huge life transitions to celebrating our first year of marriage. I enjoyed great times with family, great times with friends, relaxing on the beach, contemplating the stars, watching snow fall, meeting my new niece for the first time, starting a new job, making new friends, participating in a new church…

God has blessed me with so many great memories from the year, and, perhaps even more importantly, so many lessons in His provision. As I look to the coming year I see many large decisions that I will be making. My shoulders tighten as I consider how things may, or may not, fall together, but then I remember last year and how God provided for me time after time when life appeared impossible.

So here I am in the wake of 2007 still feeling the ripples of the year’s passing. I wonder if I will drop the ball on life’s many choices after watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Then I remember that life is about more than what I’m making it. Life is lived in both the loud, screaming moments and also the soft, quiet ones...the sun as I walk to work, the hug from the kid who always shies away from me, the smile of my bride from across campus. Perhaps these are moments I should be determined to view as significant when I stand in the wake of 2008.