A Standing Ovation

So it's December 31, 2008.
New Year's Eve.
And what would such a day be without a good old wrap-up post on my blog?

Without spilling my guts all over the internet and with sweet tunes in my ears, I'm going to attempt to put a cap on what has been a roller coaster of a year.

I went to church with my parents this evening and God, as he is said to do, worked in a mysterious way. One of the readings for the New Year's Eve service was from Luke's gospel and it read something like this:

"27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 3031 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." (Luke 12:27-31 NKJV)
(If you're wondering about the translation, it was a Lutheran church.)

So after a year of spiritual tempest and trying to control the cross of every T and the dot of every I in my life, hearing this passage was absolutely divine. It seems like all year I'd been hearing about exactly what this passage is saying but it hadn't hit me until this evening.

To sum up this year I'm not going to talk about every single thing that went wrong and every thought that I couldn't forget, which, unfortunately, would be my first instinct. Instead, I'm going to look back on gaining of new friends and saying goodbye to old friends, the beauty of Michigan's upper peninsula, new experiences, realization of dreams, new roommates, 21 frets gone, and so much more that's not to be regretted in 2008. I'm also not going to look back at what hasn't been done, but look forward to what could be in 2009 and stay optimistic (or, go against myself completely ;-) ).

I want to invite everyone to do their best to let go of worry this next year. To use an old cliche, let go and let God. I know you're like me and you like to be in control, but why not give it to your Father in heaven? We've spent this entire last year trying so hard to be in control and we only ended up losing it. If God knows what we need and is going to provide for us, all those things we worried about before won't matter. They will be added to us according to His will. So when the right time comes, we'll be in the right place with the right people doing the right thing without having to fret about it every single day. And if something doesn't work out at some point, something else will. Wouldn't it be nice to know that someone else has things under control for you? And not only under control, but has a whole life of blessing in store for those who would just trust?

I feel like 2009 is going to be about letting go of control, running towards God, and learning to make the most of the life, the precious gift we were given by Him. Trying to control everything and play god myself isn't something that I want to continue to pursue.

So, take it or leave it. Regardless, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and may you hear much good music and eat at least one serving of fruits and vegetables every day! :-D