A not so typical New Year's "Post"...

As I write this post fireworks are going off in full force, as people, in my neighborhood (and all over) welcome in the New Year.

I have never been big on New Year's Eve celebrations. Nope. Never really gotten excited about it or wanted to have a big party or "ring in the new year" in some kind of memorable or exciting way.

I am not sure why. I fear it has something to do with my resistance to change. Celebrating the New Year seems so much like throwing a party welcoming change, welcoming a new chapter or unknowns, and quite frankly there are other things I would rather get excited about.

But as the fireworks were going off (they still are by the way) there was something brooding in my spirit.

Celebrate your second chances.

What in the world are you talking about? I mean, I know (do I ever know) how many second chances I have been blessed with, but what was God trying to tell me?

Then the tidal wave hit.

Change is not always about making things different. It is not always about the unknown. Sometimes change simply means we get a second chance to do what we know we should have done in the first place. Sometimes it means we get another try at something we ignored or resisted the first time it was laid out before us. Sometimes it means we get a chance to clean up our mistakes.

But sometimes change does mean things are different, and perhaps even they will never again be the same.

August of 1998, I met someone who changed my life. We were instant friends, and quickly sisters. She is the kind of person who often times others don't truly see because her true joy is in the shadows. She was always in my shadow, pushing me to be more like He wanted me to be. She became my family, when I was a thousand miles away from my own.

We served alongside each other in many ministries in college. Her friendship helped enable me to lead, and recognize some of the leadership gifts that had been entrusted to me.

This year has held lots of changes in our friendship.

Some changes that assure things will never be the same between us.

We can't go to coffee whenever we want. We can't meet every November, like we had done every year so far. We couldn't be together for the arrival of her first born.

Our communication even began to grow increasingly infrequent.

Celebrate your second chances.

You see, one of the most memorable second chances I got this year was from Heidi. She gave me a second chance to make our friendship, and communicating regularly, a priority.

We could have easily allowed time, our schedules, my ministries change our friendship indefinetly.

But she wouldn't let that happen.

Ho Jo Po, I am thankful for you. Your friendship has, and continues to, changed my life. More than you will ever know...

So, as we all ring in this New Year, stop and think about what second chances you were given in 2005. I have quite a list, quite a long list.

This New Year I am celebrating the blood that was shed for my second chances.

I am celebrating the grace that pours into my life continually.

I am celebrating the mercy that is showered upon me from so many different sources.

And I am celebrating the patience, gentleness, and love God Almighty has with this wayward child of His...

Thank you to each of you who are a part of my life. You are loved.