A Community of Grace

Happy New Year!

Once again we have reached that point in the calendar when people look back on the past 12 months, and forward to the “new year.” It is a good time for us to remember what it means to be made “new.” For many people, 2007 will not be a new year, but simply another year. They will encounter problems and pleasures and react much as they have in the past. “Same old, same old.” The only thing that will change for them, really, is the last digit in the date! How sad!

12/29

Peace

Are you kidding? Peace? Read the paper! Another innocent child shot in a drive by shooting in Richmond. Hospitals in Gaza divide the injured based on their political party, for fear of further violence on the wards! The list goes on: Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia. There is no peace on earth!

12/22

Celebration

What does it take for the whole world to celebrate? To some degree the whole world celebrates “New Years” (although not all join in the festivities, and it moves around the globe sort of like a “wave” at a football game rather than happening all at once). Sad that we have so little experience at celebration.

12/16

Love Languages

How do you communicate “I love you”? For many, it depends on who they’re talking to! Some people “hear” they are loved through a box of candy, flowers, or some other gift. Others “hear” those things as apologies; they hear love only when you do something for them, like clean the house, wash the dishes, fix them breakfast, or the like. What speaks “love” to you?

12/09