2010

A new year? Where did 2007, 2008, 2009 go? All gone. It's fun to watch a new year come in. Everyone in the teacher's lounge has healthy food to eat. There are now lines waiting to get on treadmills at the gym. A yoga class with every spot on the floor filled. All with people starting something new, thinking this year is going to be different, I am going to start fresh. But, come March -- most people will fall back into their old routines.

I have to say I am no different. There is something inspiring about a new year, even though as a teacher I feel like the year is just half over, instead of beginning. I have signed up for a mini-marathon in May and so I have new things to work towards at the gym, but also want to see other things in my life change. I don't want to fall back into old habits, I want to be different. But will I? It seems like time after time, I am running like a hamster on a wheel, turning my little legs -- with good intentions -- but not getting anywhere, not seeing any results. I'm not talking about physical results, but emotional, maturity, spiritual results.

So, I want to spend more intensional time with people, more time reading the bible, more time in prayer asking and seeking what he wants me to do next. How can I encourage better than I did before? How can I invest more? How can I live life fully in a season of transition. Then, I think about what results would I be looking to notice. Being an "activator" (as I found out was one of my strengths after taking a little test) I'm not a patient person, I want to see results of my "wheel running" now. As I write this though, I realized that it will probably take years to see the results of living faithfully now. I guess God does know what he is doing.

I guess I have seen results, but maybe the results I am seeing now were were time invested in high school, or college, or even a few months ago. Maybe this precious life I get to live now, is a result of much prayer, of countless times the word has spoken to me, of a cup full of words people have poured into me, a result of time spent in relationships and friendships. Maybe I don't have awe inspiring times of prayer today, or best friends that really know my heart and push me in this current season of life. But, I guess I am messy ball of yeast and flour, being constantly kneaded, rising, being punched down again all to lead to an end, where I am fully complete.

Ha. It's funny with you take a moment to be still with the Lord, and write and think and he shows you things that you are too busy to realize. So, who knows what results will come of 2010, maybe I will see them in a few weeks, but most likely I will see them when I am old and gray, and closer to being more perfected by the Lord. He has been faithful every year prior, so why would he stop now.

Bring it on 2010.