2012 Babalaz!

Someone recently wished me a “Happy New Year” and asked how I was feeling so far in 2013? I jokingly (maybe not so jokingly) said that I feel as though I am still “hung-over” from 2012... Translation...It is not possible to go to sleep on 31 December and wake up on January 1^st and everything is sparkling, fresh and new!

Just as with a “babalaz”, there is a period of time where you need to “recover” from the previous night, before you can welcome the new day and get on with the business of living. Even though the dates were declaring that it’s a “New Year” and that we should all be positive and have a fresh outlook for the year ahead, I couldn’t help feeling fatigued, worn down and lethargic...felt like I had stumbled into 2013 and just needed to “sleep off” the effects of 2012...hehehehehehehehe...What a way to start the year right?... I have been comforted to know that I am not alone and there were other people that I know who shared this “feeling”.

It’s taken me 14 days to “recover”; let the “fog lift” and seriously start looking at 2013 and what I would hope it has in store for me. 2012 was a very long, trying and tough year.   As I reflect and look back I think “Wow! All that happened in just 366 days?”...lol... I am astounded at the personal gains that I've made. As someone very rightly reminded me this past week, “It’s not about what you didn’t manage to achieve, instead celebrate the distance that you covered” So often we focus on the failures and not look at the successes or even the lessons along the way. When we centre our hearts on what we are grateful for, more often than not that positives far outweigh the negatives.

Yesterday in church, the worship team sang “Give Thanks” by Don Moen, a 90’s worship classic. The alter was opened up for people to come up and give thanks to God for what he has been, is doing in their lives. As I sat there listening to the various members of the congregation as they went up, I started to seriously think about what I was grateful for from 2012. Here goes:

·         I am grateful for the challenging work situations which seemed to rain down on me as they have set a foundation within me to grow into a better leader who realizes that there can be no true success in any sphere of life outside of God and his word

·         Though I was diagnosed with a chronic health condition; I am grateful that the experience of managing my condition has developed within me a resilience which I did not know I possessed.

·         I am grateful for the incredible input and prayers of a loving family and friends. 2012 was tremendous as these relationships grew and were made stronger, indeed true wealth is determined by the people in our lives. God is good

·         I am grateful that through everything that I went through in 2012, I could see that God’s hand upon my life has been there. I am grateful that I have grown to learn to hunger for and see His word come to life. I am grateful that He has been using me in my workplace, in my family, in my community and in my church as his minister through prayer. I may not be on a podium, but 2012 has shown me that I can be used by God where ever I am, so long as I am willing.

·         What I am most grateful for though; is that God is not finished with me. 2012 was just a chapter in this great life story that he has penned out for me. Every challenge and lesson is developing me into who and what he intended me to be.

In the past, when the new year rolled in I would have a list of goals and ideas of what I wanted out of the year, where I wanted to be etc. 2012 taught me that though writing down the vision and goals is great, what’s more important is to search out God’s will. I’ve decided to take a different approach this year, and wait and listen (for a change) instead of dictate what I would like for 2013. I will definitely be sure to draw on and heed the lessons that I learned in the last 12 months.

Proverbs 3: 5 – 18 can sum-up my outlook for 2013. The details I will leave to God to fill out. (A man plans his way, but God determines his steps...).

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
⁸ It will be health to your flesh, ^[b]
And strength^[c] to your bones.
⁹ Honour the Lord with your possessions,
And with the first-fruits of all your increase;
¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
¹¹ My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
¹² For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
¹⁴ For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honour.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.


Happy New Year everybody!