A Short Note on the New Year...

It is near the beginning of 2012.  Wow, where has the last year gone?  And what will happen this year?!  The news has been rich with stories of people believing that by this time 2012 this world will be non-existant.  Craziness, I say...  Craziness indeed.  I would never concern myself with such silliness...

But then, should I?  No, I am not speaking of the impending doom predicted by a complete misunderstanding of the Mayan calender.  But as I sit here pondering the past year, I must ask this...  What if I am not here on this planet by December 2012?

Yesterday I spent some time reading from the book of James, specifically 4:14 which states "Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow; For what is your life? It is but a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."  Or in laymen's terms: you can't count on being alive tomorrow. Actually, DON'T count on it. 

Have you ever visited a graveyard or read through obituaries just for the sake of doing it?  In almost every case there is one common, running theme: They were not expecting to die when they did.  Death is inconvenient; it takes us on it's terms and timeframe, not ours.  We may make our little plans for tomorrow- fine.  But we are not promised it. 

I know that the world will not end this year...  But I can't say the same for me.  It is my prayer that I will.  I happen to believe that life is a precious gift...  But the one thing I must make sure of, and I urge you to do the same...  Live today. Love today. Forgive today. Embrace today. And most importantly follow Christ today.  Follow where ever He leads today.  Happy New Year...