December for me is more than just the signal of a new calendar year on the horizon. It’s also when I turn another year older. This month I find myself reflecting on 2024 and age 45; all the amazing experiences, the hard ones, laughter, anger, excitement, worry, wonder, hope, despair… it’s almost like every emotion I’ve felt was, at some point in the year, counterbalanced by it’s opposite. I’d still say, though, that 2024 (and 45) was a great year. Of course the mountain top experiences are wonderful (and welcome) but as I told my sister the other day, and I don’t know if I’ve ever said this out loud, but I kinda like the valley, too. It’s in the valley that I’m most reminded that I can’t do anything good on my own. I need help.
But it’s not just the need that I embrace, it’s who I need from. And that’s God. He’s the only one that can rescue me from all valleys (and mountaintops, too). I’d hate to have a life where everything is easy and comfortable. The risk of shuffling God to a side priority would be so high, so those valleys, they aren’t really that fun but there’s a song I’m reminded of from back in the day where the lyrics say, “valleys fill first.”
When God pours out his blessing, mercy, grace, love, rescuing, the valleys fill first.
That was a little bit of a tangent, wasn’t it? This year has been a lot of fun from the camping/travelling, triathloning, working, generally being with people that mean a lot to me whether that’s family, old friends, new friends, my dogs, the neighborhood horses, the pup across the street who stretches in the most cute way, volunteering around town, it’s been a good year.
I find it a nice fit that next year the pastor will be preaching on Ecclesiastes, probably my favorite book in the whole Bible. In chapter 3 is that familiar part where it says there’s a time for this, a time for that, etc. But the whole book is about all the things the author has experience and accomplished in a search for meaning. At the end, and this is sort of a spoiler but go read the whole thing anyway, he says this:
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
Isn’t that refreshingly simple? The other day I was staring at my sleeping dogs and admired them. They don’t worry. They don’t have much anxiety about life. They get fed and they’re happy. In a way, I want to be just like that. Not tangled up in trivial matters, but just living each day knowing God is going to take care of me. Peace. Rest. Excitement.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew)
I look forward to the days when I am fully dependent on God alone. It won’t happen overnight, I’m a feisty Capricorn after all. But I’m pretty pumped that each day I’m changing, even if it’s little by little, into someone more selfless, more compassionate, more willing to listen, more patient, and more happy. 2025 is going to be great.
-Out of the Wilderness
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Out of the Wilderness 