Year In Review

I wrote the following blog for the National Anglican Youth website (www.generation.anglican.ca) but it seems worth a re-release... :-)

I know most people are having fun looking back at the year 2006… there are tons of lists – best music, movies, photographs (okay, I’m a news junkie). Then there’s the lists of good times, difficult times, already-forgotten times that each of us has. I had some friends over for New Year’s Eve, and then more friends over New Year’s Day. What a year – I’ve had a bunch of stuff happen – travelled on 4 continents, was ordained priest, met new friends and rekindled ages-old relationships, started a new job and moved across the country, obtained some new pet-friends (including the odd hedgehog and the puppy who is too quiet right now, I really hope he’s not in the garbage AGAIN!), destroyed my car (and myself) in a car-vs.-moose collision, standing up at my friends’ wedding as a bridesmaid, fantastic new boyfriend… the list goes on.



But here’s my important list… in 2006, I met God. Almost every day. Some days it was easier than others – God would manifest Godself right in front of my eyes, in such a blatantly obvious way that I couldn’t help but noticing… sharing the stories of worship from the World Council of Churches Assembly with groups of people back home, welcoming a new parishioner into the church, holding my godson, experiencing the Lutheran Youth Gathering with all it’s high energy… then there were times when God was there and I didn’t always see… driving past a homeless man and trying hard not to make eye contact, enjoying a large meal without giving thanks to God or thinking about the efforts of the people and land who produced my feast, forgetting to follow through on commitments I made to friends, choosing to watch a movie instead of pray… unfortunately that list goes on as well.



And so, here I publicly share my New Year’s Resolutions for 2007. This way, they’re out there, people can hold me accountable to them…

1. Pray, daily.
2. Smile at a stranger. Daily.
3. Call a friend I haven’t spoken to in a while, at least once a week.
4. Grow my own food – at least some of it – and continue to support local farmers!
5. Meditate on the challenges in my life and find what God wants me to learn from it.
6. Blog – on time – both here and my personal site!
7. Exercise – easier with a high-energy dog, but still…



There it goes… that should do it… I wish you all a Happy New Year – and I pray we all recognise the blessings God has bestowed on us.