In Memory of 2015

It's that time of the year again! I am happy to be doing this, because this means I we survived. For the past two weeks, I have played the same song every morning while taking a shower; I have slept at the same time, and woken up at the same time. I have done the exact same thing each morning because I thrive on routine. I don't like spontaneity; I have to have planned everything ahead of time. I think that's what most of 2015 was for me: routine.  Usually, when starting this sort of reflective post, the pessimist in me (or perhaps, just human nature in general) wants to proceed with the negative. However, it took me a while to come up with those. Don't get me wrong, this year wasn't all rosy and/or filled with sunshine. There were patches of dark clouds and some rains. The best part however was that after every dark night, came morning.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

For many around the world, 2015 was a painful year: terrorist attacks surged, hate crimes and civil unrests persisted, and economies plummeted. To say that it was a tumultuous year worldwide, would be a very great understatement. But I found peace within me, for the most part. Even when I would first become anxious and/or nervous, it usually ended with a manner of peace I didn't understand.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The year generally started well, and I settled comfortably into my routine. To be honest, in retrospect, it seems like a pretty uneventful year for me. I feel like I didn't do anything groundbreaking or earth-shattering. I didn't live more intentionally, and I was very lackadaisical. In my defense, I did write an awful lot of exams, and was constantly getting burnt out from all the work I had to do.  Consequently, I wasn't as creative, and I got too comfortable.

2015 was the year I got my Master's, which I think is a pretty big deal. Although, getting that sort of degree makes you have to ponder more on the trajectory of your life. I am not too worried about that. I have learned over the years, but more so this year that having all the answers is overrated. Life will unfold anyway, and you would only have been overly anxious. Besides, as Dr. Zack Addy in the show Bones proves, relying on logic too much can be very destructive. So yes, have a plan, but be flexible. 2015 was also the manifestation or shall I say proof that I should learn to trust my intuition/guts more and less of what is right before me. Life really can change for anybody at any second; I saw this both directly and indirectly. 2015 was the year I had a deeper understanding of God surpassing even our imaginations.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Through everything that went down in 2015, and they were more mind battles than anything else, God did see me through them ALL. The best part is being alive, hale and hearty; and not just alone, but every single person I love and care about as well. That's a miracle I do not take likely. I took better care of my heath this year. By no means am I saying that's why I have perfect health. Far from it, that's all God. Perhaps, I took charge is a better phrase. I was really committed to being disciplined (in every facets of my life) this year, and projected that on exercising and trying to consume only things beneficial to me. This was no real big deal, just a conscious decision to be more active; I stopped taking elevators, walked more etc. l threw all that out of the window this holiday season though.

I still feel like I need a better understanding of God's love and I am incredibly happy to have spent the last days of 2015 studying in-depth God's love and how little we know of it. We tend to handle things on our own, and forget there's an eternal being with a selfless love for us. Ah, I am not sure how exactly 2016 will go. I am slightly anxious, which is contradictory since I just spent the last few sentences talking about an unfathomable love on my side. But I really am positive, confident even that 2016 will be amazing.

To those who found this year challenging; those who mourned; the people who failed woefully; those who tried so hard and struggled so hard, yet have nothing to show for it; those who demonstrated faith, unwavering faith, yet had their prayers unanswered; the people who felt like if there is a God, he probably hates them; those who don't even know who God is; The ones that spent every minute of 2015 in hospitals; those who cried themselves to bed every night; I hope you find joy, peace, and laughter in the coming year.

"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed."

I don't agree with cynics who are peevish when they see others make resolutions or declare a new year a new slate or whatever other maxim rocks your boat. I don't have a resolution...yet(yes, a lot can change in hours) but I have goals.  Indeed, the year may be new, but if you do not change anything or renew your mind, it will be like years past. After all, you can't be doing the same thing and expect a change. I plan to continue minding my business, but be a little more caring and tolerant of others. Again, like I write every year, I want to be more intentional in living. Everyday this year (or most days) I woke really thanking God for the miracle of waking every morning. I think we tend to take such things for granted too much. I plan on seeing the absolute best in others even when they act otherwise.

With all that being said, BRING IT ON 2016, my faith remains unwavering!

My favorite selfie partner and I

"May our barns be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares."

Happy New Year people!

Love,
I