A Template of Meaning

I’m big on “the day after” as opposed to the anticipated holiday or the big event. I’ll take a random Tuesday over a holiday anytime, and I particularly love December 26 and January 1.

Traditionally I spend time on New Year’s Day looking back at journal and calendar and checkbook to see where the year went and what it all meant, with the hope of “doing better.” And sometimes I do (better); sometimes not.

But this morning I chanced upon the “praise” section of my 2007 journal and reread it, meditating on some of the names of God I had clung to this year and some of the ways He had manifested Himself in my life. I have renewed gratitude for those (and awe that He meets me so specifically). And in the names, I saw patterns.

There is a book of “Then and Now Bible Maps” in which there is a printed page and then a clear page that goes over it to show changing boundaries, new place names and how the maps reflect history. Today I was able to look at my year with an overlay of God’s names and roles in my life as the template that made sense of the reality, the lens through which it should be properly viewed. And that brings comfort and hope… that the disparate events, people, crises, joys, challenges, travels, encounters, readings, prayers and hopes of 2007 were not random or haphazard but, instead, functions of God’s movement and will in my life.

A major highlight of 2007 was healing in some key relationships, and I see that a Wonderful Counselor, Healer, Great Physician was responsible.

The River of Delights provided road trips, adventures, epiphanies, tears over beauty, moments of joy, feasts and reunions this last year.

I see that I faced specific instances of adversity, fear, worry, and uncertainty with one who trains me for battle and provides armor. He was a Shield where I can take refuge, a Rock, a Fortress, and Deliverer.

At times when I was lonely (stunned from having been hurt by or having hurt others, or just longing for deeper companionship than earth always provides), I had a Friend, although I rarely welcomed Him as “Sufficiency.” At other times I see how God sent specific books, thoughts, verses, experiences or even people (closely connected or one-time messengers) as manna that got me through a day, sufficient indeed.

Paths were made smooth so my ankles wouldn’t turn; my way was flooded in light and guidance. Discipline and rebuke sought to save me the trouble of wandering into minefields or digging my own, ultimately empty cisterns.

I see where the Holy Spirit was Librarian and Tutor, where God’s presence was an Abba’s lap, where Jesus was Guide in ways that surprised and intrigued and, yes, even irritated in the call to follow. But mostly I see that 2007 was from Him, and He was present – as opposed to the year being some random, haphazard series of events on the way to a someday, somewhere, somehow experience of finding God and His will.

Posted by Cary Umhau