Eight Maids a Milking: The Vision for 2017

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6; Matthew 25:31-46

Happy New Year sweet friends!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13)

IMG_3129Last night after drinking some champagne with friends and driving home amidst fireworks and cheers of good riddance to what was a hard year for so many, I sat on my balcony and burned all of the old stories from 2016 that I didn’t want to carry into the new year.

Stories of bullies and our mutual resentment–You are forgiven Fred, Jo, and Wendy. I free you from your need to ask for forgiveness, which you will likely never do, and choose to move on from what you did to what I am doing.

Stories of old hurts from childhood finally understood–I extend understanding and grace to the home of a narcissist and the enablers. I will continue to mine the pain so that I can come out the other side healed, but I am grateful for the knowledge gained in the trenches of this hard year.

Stories of my own shortcomings–I forgive myself for the fear, shame, and meanness that can come over me and cause me to build walls of protection around myself and my heart. Kindness and compassion are my birthright and I will offer this to myself and others with great abandon.

Stories of disloyalty and loss–A few wounds go deep and I have removed the bandaid and I’m hoping to do the hard work of cleaning the wound to allow healing. This is necessary to allow me to make new friends again.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40:

It’s 2017!

I will focus on Joy!

My vision for how best to do that includes connection, meditation, health, adventure, creativity, FullSizeRenderfun, and inspiration.

I will chase these with the passion that I’ve buried deep under the weight of responsibility, survival, and safety. I will chase the life I want. The life I need. The life I deserve.

This is the life that the Universe…God…The Creator…The Divine…has for me. A new life. A new meaning. A place where I am surrounded by the Spirit of God. The Spirit which has come to dwell with the people. In the people. Around the people.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)

Set your intention. Put your plan together. Do your work. And in all things..LAUGH!

Joy from me to you my Loves!

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