dmdubay

The new year is already upon us and I am just barely letting go of 2014. It was a wonderful year and reflecting on our many adventures and blessings makes me wonder how things can continue to get better. I usually write New Year’s resolutions and I usually fail to follow through for more than a couple of months. But I do love new beginnings. I love novelty and surprises. This month’s theme for my blog is “something new.” For January, I hope to try as many new things as I can. It will take some imagination and creativity, but maybe you can help. I could use suggestions. I promise I won’t say, “Been there, done that,” because even if I have done something before, I can always approach it from a different perspective.

I talked to a friend today who broke her wrist a couple of days before Christmas and had to have a metal plate inserted to stabilize it. She is going through physical therapy and every day she is excited to find that she can do more things with her broken hand. I love her attitude. Imagine being excited about being able to tie my shoes, or open a water bottle. I hope during this month I can keep the attitude of excitement about what I can do, see, hear, taste or feel and maintain the freshness of always something new.

Sucia Island

The first reading on New Year’s Day is a fitting way to start something new. It is the Lord saying to Moses to bless with these words: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace!” What a comforting sound!

I finished the theme of giving in December. I was saved at the last moment in achieving my goal. I was wondering, “How on earth am I going to give away thirty things one day and the very next day, thirty-one?” Then I was looking through some cards that I have been hanging on to for years and thought, “I could give these away! It would take me three lifetimes to use them all anyway and someone else could use them. They’re beautiful.” So I sorted through them, made sure they all had matching envelopes and tied them together to bring to the thrift store.

With the new year and new month, I’m on to a different theme. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.

The end of the year causes each of us to stop and think about the past year. Newspapers and magazines have ten most interesting stories, ten most memorable photographs, ten this and ten that, the greatest athlete, politician, the most foolish, the greatest medical achievement the most exceptional or the worst of countless matters. Why does it always have to be in superlatives? What about the stuff that brings joy every day? A deep, satisfying breath of fresh air, the color of the sky at sunset, a feeling of warmth when I remember what someone said or did, reading a line of poetry that goes straight to my heart and brings tears to my eyes, the smell of freshly brewed coffee: these, and countless others are how life is lived in the humdrum of everyday. And looking back on the past year, I can’t help but be grateful for so many of those moments. I suppose if I wrote them all down, all of the books in the world could not hold them. (Does that sound familiar?) But if I must come up with the greatest, coolest, most stupendous, grooviest, paramount phenomenon of 2014 for me, it would be that I have life and breath and spirit with which to be aware. That I am is very good. And the fact that you are is equally good. Happy New Year!

I was struck by the words of a very familiar Christmas carol yesterday. We were singing Joy to the World and you know how by the time you get to the part and heaven and nature sing you’re usually on autopilot—and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing. I never thought before about nature singing. Of course I can imagine heaven and the angels singing, but nature? It is an intriguing thought. The natural world, as beautiful as it is, praises the creator in song. What a beautiful melody it must be!

“In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (First chapter of Luke.) I have experienced a real peace during this Advent season. Although I have been busy, I have not felt an urgency to get things done by a certain time, since the season of Christmas is more than just a day. My annual Christmas letter is not written yet, but I never send it before the first day of Christmas anyway. I have tried to stay with the meaning of Advent—preparation. And most importantly, I have tried to prepare my heart and mind to receive, to have the attitude of asking for nothing and accepting everything with joy and gratitude.

A little song from the HeartSongs singers seems fitting as we Christians celebrate to coming of the Light of the World and our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate the Festival of Light—“I am sending you light to hold you in love.”

Often in our travels I come across a memento that reminds me of someone and I buy it, thinking I will give it to that person for Christmas. But when I get home, I cannot help but give it away. It’s like money burning a hole in my pocket. So when Christmas rolls around, I have nothing to give. But maybe it’s better to preserve the spirit of generosity throughout the year rather than only at Christmas. That reminds me of a store in Anchorage that has a sale every year in July called, Christmas in July. They play Christmas carols over the P.A. system and everybody walks out humming. Proceeds from the sale go to needy people and organizations in the community. What a great way to extend the spirit of generosity to more than just one short season!

Murano glass