Looking Forward Through the Past

I know, the title sounds wrong.  However, I felt as though that was the best way to convey this switch to a new year.  I typically take this time to look back over my year and sketch out my hopes for the coming year.  (Last New Year's Eve, I wrote that I wanted to start a blog in 2017.  Cut it close, didn't I?)  Oh, and by the way, this isn't going to flow neatly or be anything specific.  I just wanted to do something for New Year's, and it grew.  It always does.  :D

Anyhoo, I always find it too sudden - this transition into a fresh start.  When I think about it, though, I realize that the New Year is almost a picture of our salvation.  When we accept Christ's sacrifice, we are immediately made new.  No strings.  No return date.  No broken promise.  In the same way, as soon as the clock flips from 11:59 to 12:00, the year is over.  There's no going back, only forward.  And the year is new, clean, fresh, and sparkling with potential.

I think that's partially why we make goals.  We see this entire year stretching emptily out in front of us, and we feel as though we have to try to fill it up with stuff.  Why do we think that?  I don't know, but I've become much more reluctant to set concrete goals.  Of course, I've now decided to post them here for everyone to see.  Oops.

1. Keep blogging.  This one shouldn't be too hard; I already love this!
2. Grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.  This one is a carryover from last year, actually.  I thought it was a good goal.
3. Live so that I'd be missed.
4. Get good grades.  Basically, learn to hate Chemistry less.
5. Consistently write.  We'll see.  This one is the least likely, unfortunately.  :D
6. Take myself less seriously and stop caring what other people might think.
7. Have fun!

 Allrighty, we've got those hard things done.  Seriously, y'all, goals are hard!  I think I'll do the month (okay, fine, week and a half) bloggy recap thing now.  Obviously, I'm still figuring out what I'm doing here.  I should probably move on now.  On to the recap!

So, the only thing that really happened was that I started this blog.  Well, that, and the fact that people are actually reading it - which kind of shocked me.  In a good way, of course!

My overall year was quite a journey of new experiences, but it was great.  I was in a theatre production, went to a government camp that drastically improved my self-confidence, took classes that stretched me further then I though I could go, and lived through it all.

Most importantly, throughout everything, I learned to rely on God to hold me up and show me the way. 2 Corinthians 12:9 has become my theme verse: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (Bible Gateway.)  

Wishing you a blessed, happy, and love-filled 2018!

Brianna (who barely got this post up in time!)

What do you think?
What are your goals?