How did you celebrate the New Year?
Bidding 2007 good-bye as I sped along the New York State Thruway was not one of the more meaningful moments of my life. I did catch a few fireworks announcing 2008 over the Syracyse horizon, but my private party was nothing more than a brief but authentic prayer in the driver’s seat as the rest of the family slept in a tangled mess of luggage, laundry, blankets, skis, DVD’s, iPods, and Christmas gifts. As mid-night struck, we still had 12 hours to go; it would be a long night ahead. Especially through the blizzards in Northern Indiana. And, wouldn’t you know it, nary an open Starbucks in the wee hours of January 1, 2008. Not till Toledo. That’s a long way!
It wasn’t a very kind farewell to a year rich with fond memories, signficiant firsts, and many many divine graces. Like the stripes marking dividing lines on the freeway, life in the mini-van keeps moving on.
So today begins a whole new year, and I haven’t had one deep thought or a moment of reflection. Not one. I’ll do that tomorrow, when I’m not so tired!, I argue with myself. Starting the year with procrastination? Counters the voice in my head…
Being so consumed with trivial things that you neglect the most important?
and then, of course, Beginning the year with self-recrimination already?
And an argument with your husband, too? Nice.
Yeah, that too.
Driving home from the grocery store (Is this any way to spend a national holiday?!) I stumbled on a radio station playing a favorite song (How lame, you can’t even sit in silence in your car–you need noise) Not even sure which artist sings, but it always catches me… speaks to me.
The lyrics remind me of an insistant run-on-sentance from God:
“I love you more than the sun and the stars that I taught how to shine you are mine and you shine for me, too I love you yesterday and today and tomorrow again I’ll say it again, and again, I love you more… more than you can imagine… more than you can fathom… Maybe you know that song, too?
The lyrics came fast and furious… finally, something standing in the way of all those condemning thoughts threatening or criticizing my every move. Is this what it means to be weak? To need something that would stand in the way for me tonight?
Maybe I will know the answer tomorrow.
Right now, I am just grateful for the reminder. It is good to be home, good to be watching football, good to have enjoyed vacation with family and friends in New York, good to have groceries for tomorrow, good to have clean laundry, good to have peace in the home (well, mostly!).
And it’s good to be back with you all on the Soul Care blog–December offered many opportunities to read, reflect, and rejoice at the Birth of our Saviour. And I took them!
2008 will have much in store here as well.
So, again, how did you celebrate the New Year?
Here’s a few questions to start journaling in ‘08 with Soul Care:
What’s one line of thinking or relational pattern that, especially when you’re weak, you need God’s protection from? Write about that pattern, and be sure to just ask God directly for help…
What’s one hope for 2008 that you can name and bring to God in prayer? What is that so important to you? Spend some time thinking and praying about this as well.
Use the comments to give us a quick answer! And, Happy New Year! I’m going to bed!
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