What a year...

I'm not really a regular blogger, as you've probably noticed. I try to err on the side of saying less rather than more, at least when it comes to blogging. Maybe I'm feeling inspired at the moment...

The picture is where we will be staying at in Hawaii in February....I'm excited because Marie & Jordan are excited to go there, and it'll be my first trip to the big island. Truthfully, because I'm Scottish, I'm really excited because William Shatner got me a great deal on priceline.

More than just a vacation, this picture represents to me what I believe God is saying 2009 will be like for many of us: a beautiful completion to what He's promised us in this life, to make our lives beautiful, and to bring to fruition the plans and dreams He's placed in our hearts. But before we get there, we had to go through 2008, which was a long and difficult year. We had to face our worst fears, mourn the losses we've experienced in this life, and experience the pain of loss in more deeply personal and indescribable ways, deeper than words or thoughts can even begin to express.

I think experiencing and healing from loss is different for each person; for me, it's done through writing, especially in song. I've lost so many things in this life, some which might seem trivial at first glance, but all of which left me wanting: I've lost my father, and part of my childhood as a result. I've lost more pets than I can count. I've lost parts of my education and my earning potential, and felt like I lost a lot of my time and money to things that got me nowhere good. I've lost a spouse, a few careers, my grandparents to illness and a car accident, and many friendships from all the times I've moved. I've lost a child. How does one release that type of pain? I really don't know. I don't want to deny what I've lost, but I also don't want to live in perpetual grief and bitterness.


I do know this: God loves us, and He has good plans for us. He's made a beautiful world for us to live beautiful lives within, and given us a beautiful gift in His Son Jesus Christ. We must never forget that. And I must never forget what I've gained: a beautiful wife and son, a wonderful father, a dependable career, a home, and a God who has not forgotten His promises to me. So for 2009, I choose to have hope in the future, thankfulness in the present, and a view of the world that looks for what is beautiful around and within me. In spite of all that I've lost, I believe that God has not forgotten me, and that His calling remains true in spite of the circumstances around me. May God allow us to release the pain of our loss and replace our tears of sorrow with shouts of joy.