This New Year

Journal for Christa—

And so, what would I write to you this week, this beginning of a new year, this beginning of a new decade?

—that life is awesome (because it is)

—that unseen opportunities and expectations await (because they do)

—that this is a new year, the old is past and we can start over (because we can)

But somehow those words just don’t come today. Today is bleak and clouds hang over the mountain.

Three girls came to lunch today. Three girls from last year’s AP class, and we had a very lovely time. They are particularly special girls, and I think God has used me in some ways in each of their lives. Sometimes I think what I do is significant; at other times I contemplate tossing it all away—I wonder why?

Sometimes, it seems to me that there is something—something just out there on the horizon. I don’t know if it’s good or if it’s bad. I don’t know if I want it to be different or just the same. I don’t know, but there is something there. Something for this year.

When I think of all the things that have happened this year—all the changes made, I wonder—just what will this year be like? Opening this year is much like opening a book for the very first time. As each day unfolds and each page is turned, there will be something awesome, something unseen, something new, and much more. Some of it will be exciting; some of it will be hard. Yet, the author of this year is the same as the last, and although this year starts crisp like a brand new book, one thing is certain: the Author is good.