Onward and Upward

I was pretty ready for the end of 2012. It was a heavy year for me personally and I had a feeling that 2013 would be a better year.

And now here we are...staring into 2014, a whisper away. There was grief, sadness, failure. But I had a sense of purpose in my work (with my children and otherwise),  and I was in a place where my faith was re-oriented right back to the Gospel over and over and fresh understanding burst in.

I have been around some miserable people this year too, dissatisfied with life, insecure in their place.  In the process I realized how very blessed I am. I love my life. I couldn't have designed more perfectly the weird and meandering path that in retrospect all had purpose and meaning.

I'm not afraid of 2014. I am not convinced we will see a huge shift toward freedom in our country, but we will keep trying. I'm doubtful the Second Coming will come in 2014, ending death, sin and violence forever. But I stand at the door of 2014 remembering this:

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:17

My resolution in 2014: To watch for it, to participate in it, to never let out of my sight this truth. God came to save the world, not condemn it.