Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Years - a Time for Reflection



We are laborers together with God. I Corinthians 3:9

For many the new year is a time of self reflection.  What did I accomplish this year? How am I doing in the present? Have I achieved the goals I set out to accomplish? What lies in the year ahead?  That is where I am today.  As I look back over 2013, I am happy to say it has been a tremendous year of ups and downs.  Internationally, I watched the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.  From October 1-16 there was the government shutdown after Congress failed to pass a 2014 budget -- a  standoff between Democrats and Tea Partyers who were hellbent to prevent the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from getting launched.  After the government re-opened there were website glitches that kept Americans from registering for health insurance made available through the ACA. Although the American economy improved a bit, there were worries about layoffs in industry, especially the healthcare industry with looming Medicare cuts.

In my family life, despite the rising costs of college tuition, we were able to send my 23 year old son off to college in Northern California.  He earned above a 3 point GPA, and we are making plans to send him back for the next semester.  My daughter took an epic journey to Kenya and returned with the glow of the African sun in her eyes.  My grandson graduated from middle school in the spring and started high school in the fall.  Over the summer, I flew to Ohio to support my brother who was in the ICU recovering from surgery.  He is a survivor and from all indications will live to see the New Year. In October, I flew to Atlanta with my daughter for a reunion of her father's family.  I was surprised to find she had siblings who looked so much like her. In November I celebrated my 65th birthday at Red, White and Bluezz with family and friends. That milestone birthday was another life changing event that gave me pause to reflect on the past, present and future.  In November we mourned the death of Nelson Mandela who lead the South African people in the struggle against Apartheid and through a process of reconciliation after he was elected president.

Despite setbacks, hurdles, sickness, and catastrophes 2013 was a good year. This week I will write my goals for 2014.  Goal setting is a way of solidifying thoughts, ideas, and plans that otherwise rattle around in our heads.  Goals help us to see in black and white what things we want to accomplish.  As I think of my goals and bucket list, I am reminded of Paul's letter to the church of Corinth.  In Corinthian 3:6-8, he wrote:

I have planted, Appolis watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planted anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth increase.  and everyone shall receive his own reward according to his labour.  For we are laborers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Thus, whatever works we set out to accomplish in 2014, let us remember that we should but do our part in kingdom building.  Put your faith and trust in God, He provides the abundance!  Whether it be to teach, plant, write, build, or create, do your best and God will do the rest.

As Arthur P. Stanley wrote, Leave some good work behind you that shall not be wholly lost when you have passed away.  Do something worth living for, worth dying for.

Happy New Year and God Bless!