Readers, it's a tough week ahead. My least favorite week of the year. I hate considering the past and contemplating the future; but it is something everyone does at the imminent approach of a new year.
I've seen so many jokes about this being the worst year EVER. I remember the exact same thing happening a year ago. I have to wonder if this idea that every year is "the worst thing we've ever encountered" or "I'm so over this year, bring on another" was a thing before social media. Did our parents hate every single year of their lives? Seriously. Do you think so? Or is this indicative of a current sense of entitlement that seems to define EVERYONE?
I experienced many challenges this year. I'm still engrossed in exhaustion and challenge, but I certainly would not declare this to be the worst year of my life. Nor the one before it. (Those are reserved for some very specific times.) We are our choices. We shape our lives through daily choice, and if this was the eighth "worst year ever" in a row, I'd have to suggest you take a closer look at your agenda. I am not suggesting anything more than I am doing in my own life. I have taken copious notes in recent days and made some decisions. I realize the life I'm shaping isn't the life I necessarily want.
One of my favorite seasonal movies is - It's A Wonderful Life. I haven't seen it in several years, but I still have the script stored. How could George have possibly known that all those daily choices would add up to a life that is priceless? Each day that he made a choice to give of himself, he found meaning, and, further, he enriched countless lives around him. Every time I saw Jimmy Stewart desperately seeking to be known, wrestling with Clarence for information regarding his beloved, I was moved. Would that we all would have the opportunity for the same experience. A pre-chance to gauge how we are measuring up.
Are you shaping your life to be priceless? Or are you expecting this life to give YOU something? Like the year 2016 owes you more income, a different president-elect, or less stress. In actuality, the year 2016 was a season of time that you were gifted. Now you get to take stock of what you did with it. Did your daily choices add up?
I think if my life ended today, I wouldn't exactly be proud of my 2016. And it's not because of what happened TO me, it's because of the choices I made. It's the responses to situations. It's the time lost. It's the giving of myself to the things that will perish.
In the next week, I'm going to be bummed. It happens every year. But the key word for the approach of a new year is: GRACE.
May we all be liberal givers and takers of such. It is straight from tbe heart of God. For you. For your path.
2017 will not "hopefully be my year" unless you make it so. Be action. Be love. Be mercy. Be grace. I think you will find it will make for a wonderful life.
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