Change is scary. Encountering something new is even scarier. It's scary because it signals a shift in something that you're used to. The present becomes the past as, what is now considered old, wears out its welcome. Newness also has its advantages such as a chance for a fresh start, an opportunity to do things different. Whether we like it or not we get that type of moment every year. January 1st marks the turning of a page on the calendar giving us the hope that somehow this next set of 365 (or 366, if it's a leap year) days will be different. It is a day that is celebrated globally like no other, with parties and resolutions, all over the planet. Honestly, for me, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are more about sitting back with a nice cup of hot chocolate or hot tea and watching a good college football matchup in a premier bowl game (how many of you are shocked by that?) than counting down the seconds until the big ball drops (although I do like to get together with friends and watch that too). Essentially, January 1st is just like any other day to me. This is because I like to start the new year on a different day, November 15th, my birthday. Over the last few years this day, at times, has been a source of discouragement, mostly for selfish reasons such as me not feeling like I had achieved enough or me feeling like I should be married and have my 2.5 kids, family dog, and 2-story house with a backyard, pool and swingset already. I have often countered those thoughts with the idea that I would not be able to do a lot of the things that I have done over the last few years and am currently doing (like go on the World Race) and this usually helps to bring some comfort. I realize now that a lot of those thoughts and counter thoughts were fueled by comparison and jealousy of the worlds' standards. Tonight during our team feedback time, one of my teammates encouraged me to take advantage of this 32nd year of life, to put behind me the disappointments and expectations of the previous 31 years and take of advantage of the newness that this year would bring. Another encouraged me to stop hiding behind a video camera and take advantage of all that life had to offer. In short, I intend to do just that. I'm realizing more and more that God is very purposeful about the seasons that he places his children in. He places them there to teach them and grow them, to bring them closer to him. I intend to take full advantage of this season. Happy 31st birthday to me!
