That Was – This Is

I have not made a big deal of new years since 1999.  No I wasn’t caught up in the millennium hype at the time.  I was with good friends who were going out for to a service, it was the first time I’d ever been, so I went.  If anything that experience underlined just what a big deal new year events are.  And what it underlined was that it is not a big deal at all.

So before and since, it has not been a big deal.

What it does offer, however, is a chance to review and reflect, and I enjoy that.  Some people are of the impression that the Christian life is all about being thankful, looking at the positive and not considering the negative at all.  Now I am all for a life of thanksgiving.  I fully endorse and support it.

Yet I think it’s being somewhat misleading to look at things as though there have never been rough times, bad patches and that kind of thing.  It is indeed these things that make the life of a Christian something that people can relate to con and something with which to connect.  For me, it is good because it reminds me that God is real in the good and bad.

2012 was an interesting year for me.  A very interesting year.  There was a lot of good that happened in it.  I developed some relationships that will have a deep impact on whatever happens to me from that time onwards.  I also grew to love the music of Al Jarreau.  It got to such a love that my daughters can now tell you their favourite Al Jarreau song (Abigail loves I Will Be There For You, whilst Deborah loves After All and Zozoz gets excited to watch Roof Garden).

The memory of the year however will be for the not so positive events that took place.  2005 remains the worst year of my life, but 2012 made a good bid to be considered up there in the rankings.  Without going into too much detail a number of serious things transpired in the year that made me realise how precious life is and how precious relationships are to enjoy and endure it.

It is in the midst of acknowledging this that I come to the conclusion that thanksgiving is important.  What happened has happened – there is nothing I can do about it.  There is no point moaning about how it should not have happened.  It doesn’t make sense getting all forensic over it.  It is done.  Now it is about learning what I need to learn from it, and establishing that now is here and God has spared my life to  enjoy today and benefit from the mercies that He has given for today.

I am thus grateful for what God took me through.  I am grateful for how God blessed me through.  I am grateful for what God showed me through, and I hope to God that He will allow me to grow through it and enable others to see Him through it and grow in knowing Him likewise.

Do I have plans for the year?  Of course I do.  Numerous plans on various scales, but I had plans last year as well and let’s just say what last year taught me was the greater truth in the fact that many are the plans in a man’s heart but remains the Lord’s agenda that prevails.  I long to get in line with His plans to enjoy another day.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C.L.J. Dryden