And again. Another year down. Another year we can breathe in and exhale and think, "Wow. It already happened."
For some, 2011 was incredible. You got married. You had babies. You fell in love. You got the job of your dreams. You travelled to places you have always wanted to go.You accomplished something that you had on your bucket list.
For others, 2011 was a year of pain. You lost someone close to you. You lost your job. You accrued more debt. All you feel like that happened this year was that you were becoming accustomed to the feeling of loss and pain.
Either way, whatever kind of year it was for you: You made it. You're still breathing. You're still here.
You can ask any of my friends, but I really do not like New Years. I believe it is overrated and another excuse to get a large crowd of people into a small place to celebrate really nothing at all but the clock ticking to a new second. I know, I'm kind of cynical and sometimes seem depressing about certain concepts in life. But really I'm not. Well, think what you want. The main point that kills me about a new year is the "resolutions." Don't misunderstand me, I do not think that resolutions and goals are wrong. But the fact that we have the wait until January 1 to realize that we need to change something. We need to better something. We need to do this more or do this less. Or lose that. Or accomplish this. I find that exhausting. I think it is great for those who set a goal and accomplish it throughout the year. Way to go! But the world does not care about the goals you set. The world does not care about the people in your family. The world does not care about the places you want to travel. Baby, the world does not care about you.
You can disagree with me all you want. Go ahead. I'm the one typing and you're the one still reading. But the fact of the matter is for those I mentioned who had the great year and for the ones who are thankful they still have a roof over their heads, we all need one thing: hope.
There is only One who brings Hope. And this hope is not just on January 1, 2012. This hope is every day. This hope is all the time.
I will be very honest: I think I am the most angry with myself I have been in a very long time. For many reasons that I will not write about because that is not what matters. What matters is that I can rejoice in a hope in something better. A hope that is bigger. A hope that is Jesus. The One who cares about the goals you set. The One who cares about the people in your family. The One who cares about the places you want to travel. The One who cares about you.
So, I'm into rap. Well kind of. Certain songs. But there is this one Christian rap song called, Hero, by Trip Lee featuring Jai (I want her voice. I pray for it). When I go running I listen to this song on repeat. And there are two lines that I love:
Jesus succeeded in every part of life that we failed.
You're my hero. You've already saved the day. You're my hero.
In spite of my mess that I look back on and call 2011--He's my hero. And there are small blessings and big blessings that I know I sometimes overlook or do not always see at first. And I really really need Him. Like really really. And of course, I have a lot to "work on." But thank God that He has saved the day. He has saved this crazy mess here and loves me as messy as I might be. And He loves you as messy as you might be. He died for us "messies" so that we could be made a new creation and live for Him. To help the other messes know that there is more to this life than accomplishing one of our resolutions for the next year.
Well, I guess I'll be trite and say, "Happy New Year." Or just "Happy New Day," I guess. I know, that's good stuff, huh? Breathe it in. You never know if we'll get a tomorrow.
-S
