Whether your year has been difficult or divine, or more than likely, somewhere in between, I hope here at year’s end you are able to pause and reflect. What would you like to be different next year? You’ve chronicled your curses, but have you counted your blessings?
After a particularly trying day at work this past week, I faced bitter defeat at the end of it, my best efforts failing. I finally headed home long after dark. There’d been a song resonating with me all month that I always caught at the end and never got to fully enjoy. It started up from the very beginning when I got in the truck that night, so I turned it up and soaked in the whole thing. A little wink from above. Here’s a sample of it I hope you’ll dwell on.
Is there room in your heart for God to write His story?
… Make room in your heart and trade your dreams for His glory.
(Casting Crowns)
Do my dreams matter? Does it truly matter if we fail or succeed? It sure feels like it. But in truth, way deep down, I know all that matters is that He won so long ago.
I’ve felt foolish at times over the years for writing fantasy–silly, make believe stories. How can I be so passionate about it? Tolkien so eloquently, so powerfully solved this riddle. The world is full of myths and legends, but the gospels, he claimed, contain the only true fairy story. God became a mortal, born of a human, to save humankind from their sin by living sinless among them and being slain by them, and defeated death by dying. And thereby made a bridge for mortals to leave their world and come into His for eternity.
Other fantasy stories point back to this original, true one.
Whatever happened this year, I pray for peace and joy and thankfulness in your heart.
Returning to the journal entries has to wait for next year, my fellow travelers, since I had to make room to honor Him this season.
Merry Christmas,
Fellow Traveler
The song you gave a sample of, you found the title! Bravo Serl, bravo.
This here is Fellow Traveler. These mix ups happen with such partnerships. Much appreciated, all the same. Great hearing from you again S. Disguisey!
Well said, Fellow Traveler:
“You’ve chronicled your curses, but have you counted your blessings?”
This season is a time for praise for what He has done and reflection for what He still has yet to do. The earnest prayer of my heart is that we find peace in Him and motivation to accomplish what He has made us to say, do, and be in this next year.
As for your fantasy stories – Fellow Traveler – they are a life’s work and they inspire me to also strive to complete my life’s work as well.
They are meaningful endeavors that are divinely inspired and your sharing means so much to so many – including me.
Merry Christmas my friend – onward the New Year with zeal!
Dear Poet, apologies for my lateness! My year ended with some unexpected challenges. But all’s well now, and what a wonderful surprise hearing from you. Your soulful words are always a pleasure. I’ve been so blessed over the years–decades, in fact–to share some of my stories with a small, close circle. Your part in that has helped get me this far. Let us keep running the race together and embrace the promise of a New Year.