This time of year we can hardly help it.
Or maybe it's just me.
Christmas celebrations fold into New Year's Eve, and I'm all nostalgic and reflective. It's an attempt to capture the important points of my life's story over the past twelve months, and then put that on a trajectory to take me into the year ahead.
At this particular junction between calendars - from 2018 to 2019 - there seems to be more to reflect on than usual. The year past was one of extraordinary change for me, changes I am still adjusting to even as I embrace them fully. In fact, 2018 is very clearly cut in half for me - before May 27 and after.
Two completely different worlds.
As I step with careful confidence into 2019, I realize that I am still very much making my way on brand new territory.
That always gives opportunity for making lots of mistakes.
It also opens itself up for brand new adventures.
So I guess what I'm most grateful for today,
this first day of the new year,
is three things:
Grace
New Mornings
Being "Hesed-Loved"
The Grace of all those who have carried,
supported,
released
and otherwise loved me
through one of the most significant changes of my life thus far.
The New Mornings of merciful reset that happen every single day,
and all that lay within them,
and all the new ways of being and knowing
that are stretched out before us as soon as the clock strikes midnight.
The "Hesed" Love (loving faithfulness) of a God who just never gives up on me, no matter what, and how that emboldens me for all that should terrify me about the year to come.
I was asked casually this week by a cashier if I had any New Year's resolutions.
I smiled and made some polite conversation. But. If she only knew the lists and plans and goals and strategies I've been writing and reworking and revising for months and months in anticipation of the new things I'm doing into 2019!
But for all that, it's really more about taking each day for what it is and what it could be. Receiving the grace and embracing the new morning and being loved with fierce faithfulness.
Lamentation 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
So I step bravely into what is coming,
knowing Who has walked with me all this time up until now;
each morning,
especially this morning,
a merciful reset into all He's allowing me to become,
for His plans and purposes.
