When I was growing up, my family always went to church on New Year's Eve and on New Year's morning.  As you can imagine, we kids complained about that.  My parents explanation was that "we want to end the year with God and also start the year with God."  Seemed like overkill to me.

But I've never forgotten that.  No, our church here in Denver doesn't hold services on either of those occasions, but I do try to consciously go through that thought process on December 31 and January 1...even in the midst of celebrating with family and friends.

Something we sang every single year at those services was the hymn "Another Year Is Dawning".  I still love the words....

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

It's not about me.  It's not about me.  It's not about me.  (I'm trying to learn that.  Really.  I am.)  "On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee." 

I pray I never forget that perspective - a perspective that managed to soak in so many years ago for a kid who simply wanted to stay up late and then sleep in.  A perspective that still matters, no matter how many times the ball drops in Times Square.

Signed,
1 Morr - 4 nouw

Do you ever wonder what it would feel like for "it" to all come true?  And what is "it" anyway?  Different things for different people no doubt!

Well, this morning I was reading a newsletter (Just Plain Folks...Brian Austin Whitney) and it featured Brian's interview with Oscar winning, six time Grammy nominated Dean Pitchford.  Check out this paragraph, quoting Dean:

John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote a song in their musical ‘Flora the Red Menace’ that Liza Minelli introduced in act one where she gets a job that she really, really wants to get. And instead of singing some big, brash, bright song, she sings a song called ‘A Quiet Thing.’ And in that lyric she sings ‘When it all comes true/ Just the way you planned/ You’d think you’d hear a choir sing/ No…it’s a quiet thing.’

A quiet thing.  How cool is that....

Signed,
Shhhhhhhh

I've gained new insight into the season of Advent.  Intellectually I know the season of Advent is all about waiting, about anticipation, about eagerly envisioning "the moment" of arrival......at last!  In the case of Advent, we're talking about Jesus' birth, right?

So the last few days I experienced a different kind of waiting, anticipation and eagerly envisioning "the moment" - as my son's trip home from college experienced a great deal of delay, dismay, damage control and even danger via an accident on snowy roads.  Without boring you with the details, let's just say that pretty much everything that could have gone wrong - went wrong.  He's home safely, and hopefully someone else's car insurance will be covering the repair to our car, because the accident wasn't his fault (or the fault of his friend who was driving), and we only have liability insurance.  (I'm trying not t think about the trip back to college in mid-January.  Is it wrong to pray for good traveling weather?  Absolutely not!)

Anyway...along the way...as we awaited news of the next "step" in the less-than-happy journey, I kept thinking about Advent.  Waiting.  And waiting.  Eagerly.  Come thou long-expected Jesus.  ....  Only this time the long-expected was Jordan (and 4 more "J" college guys.)  Oh yeah, I was eager all right.  I wanted that "happy ending" right NOW! 

Too bad I don't usually feel as strongly about the season of Advent.  Okay.  Maybe never.  I'm re-examining a few things in my heart about now....

Signed,
Heez Hohm

As of today, I've been blogging for a full two years. 

I feel good about that.  Even if no one else ever reads them, it still gives me a record of things that have happened in my life, and thoughts I considered worthy of remembering...or maybe thoughts I hoped would brighten someone's day, or challenge someone.  (As of this moment, 14075 page hits.  Can't help but wonder how many of those are me!)  In reality, I do know that I have a few occasional readers out there - and some of you have been kind enough to post a comment now and then.  So to any readers who are still hanging in there....THANK YOU!

I realize, of course, that these are my "public" musings.  I've been recording my private musings (ala "morning pages") since January 2005.  Almost FOUR years!  I ran across that particular "written contract" just the other day, and I praise God for the set of circumstances that led me to begin journaling.  Yes, it's helped my songwriting.  Yes, I've found ideas in the midst of various "mind dumps".  But mostly?  I've found that writing those pages every day - regardless of whether you call it journaling, or morning pages, or stream of consciousness writing - has helped me understand myself so much better, and especially has helped me understand GOD better.  I laugh to think of the stack of journals someone is going to have to trash someday when I die!  Oh well.  Not my problem.

If you don't do anything like that?  December 8 is a pretty good date to start something new.  Or Dec. 9.  Or Jan. 1.  The point is - get started!

Maybe you're thinking about starting a blog.  Well sure!  Why not!  But I have to admit that my private musings are much more important to me than my public ones.  If you need to pick and choose?  Go private.

And I also wonder, along with my friend Sue Smith, about the ongoing CHANGES in technology and how new ideas/fads are constantly appearing on the horizon.  I check Facebook more often than blogs these days.  There's Twitter to consider.  And who knows WHAT else in the days to come!  Things keep evolving.  People get bored with the status quo.  ....  And today I found myself wondering what Heaven will be like in that regard.  It seems like our existence should be more "settled" there, doesn't it?  But if it is, will I get bored?  (Obviously not.)  But what about those personalities that thrive on change?  That love to explore.  The entrepreneurials of the world.  (Like my husband.)  ?? 

Thankfully we can be certain God has that all figured out.  He's pre-wired us for Heaven, so it won't be burdensome or disappointing in any way.

Actually, as I think about the concept of "eternity", two years of blogging doesn't seem like much of anything.  Just a blip on the radar.

Happy Blip-Day to me.

Signed,
Right Won Morr

"A writer's best friend is the waste paper basket."  (Isaac Bashevis Singer)  File 13.

Yes, re-writing is extremely important.  But sometimes?  It might be better to simply move on.  ...  And given how precious the commodity of time truly is, these become vastly important decisions!

Signed,
Ime Juhst Sae Yinn