First, say hello to my beautiful niece, Alivia. She was happy this morning.
It’s always intrigued me that the New Year falls so closely to Christmas (or vice versa). For many, the New Year comes with resolutions, empty promises, and sometimes excitement for a “clean slate”.
Christ’s birth came with a promise for a new beginning for humanity.
Maybe that’s why the two celebrations fall so closely. With Christ’s birth we are given a new beginning. This feeling of a fresh start is often masked through the New Year festivities and we try to believe that somehow, just maybe, a date on the calendar will change things, make things new rather than realizing that the birth of God incarnate is what revolutionizes our lives.
And that is my New Year’s resolution: to recognize that it doesn’t take one day of the year to believe that I can do good things, that I can be a healthier person, and that I can love others more truly for another twelve months; rather, it’s to believe that through Christ all things are made new. It is HE that gives us new year, a new century…a new opportunity at life.
For many of you who regularly read this, this is a change of pace from my normal, boring, journal-esque writings, but I’ve struggled; I’ve been so caught up with schooling and trying to maintain some sort of sanity that I’ve forgotten why it was that I chose Messiah College. My goal over break is to rejuvenate and get my spiritual life back together. Maybe that’s why so many things fell apart this semester and I lost so many friendships that I held so dear to my heart.
Also, many churches around the world are taking part in what’s called Advent Conspiracy. Spread the word & get involved. I know we all complain about Christmas consumerism but rarely find solutions. Here’s a way.
Worship fully. Spend Less. Give more. Love all.
GIVE PRESENCE.
I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed Christmas and New Year/Beginning with your families.
p.s. I have an interview in Philly in a few weeks for teaching. I’m overwhelmed with nervousness, but I trust that if this is truly my calling, God will work things out.
