Ice throw

My parents and aunts and uncles used to spend nights sitting around the kitchen table. They would have a good time talking and reminiscing. One of my favorite things to do was sit and listen to them when they were all together. I loved the stories, I love the grand ideas, the righteous indignation, and the jokes. But mostly, I knew something awesome was going to happen. One night we tried to put my aunt's fairly short and very curly hair into a princess ponytail - which was only semi-successful. One night my uncle shared his "ultimate shoulder rub" which was almost unbearably painful, but he promised that "it will feel so nice when I'm done." Most nights like this involved some sort of singing (in at least 3 part harmony and must include the song "sentimental journey".)

But the best night of all was when my uncle showed all of us kids one of the mysteries of science. It was a winter night - so cold. He had my mom boil some water on the stove and poured the boiling water into a cup. Then, he opened the sliding glass doors and threw the water into the air. To our astonishment, the water instantly turned to snow before it hit the deck. The effect looks something like this:

Tonight, after checking that the weather was sufficiently cold (-15 F) I decided to recreate the ice throw that my uncle taught me so many years ago. I boiled the water and stood on the balcony of my 3rd floor apartment in my knit boots, shorts, sweater, and stocking cap and threw boiling water into the air. Before it hit the ground a couple of stories below - it had turned to snow. Pretty awesome.

embracing the new creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Being stuck in my apartment alone for 3 days over the New Years is not my first choice of how to spend the holiday. The first day I reveled in the time alone, resting. I am an introvert by nature, so the first day was much needed. I needed my own little slice of the universe to regain a sense of who I am.

The second day was the tough one. I ventured out in the snow and cold in the morning. I thought it would help to get out the apartment. I thought I could avoid what would inevitably come - the reflection, the self-pity, the dissatisfaction. However, it came anyway. I called home to find the rest of my family celebrating together. I pitied myself for living in South Dakota, a place where weather ruins plans. I pitied myself for living alone. I pitied myself for having a year with no big accomplishments, nothing I could brag about. I went to bed before midnight, not really caring to watch the ball drop.

Then something happened. I woke up this morning and things were different. I remembered who I was in Christ. I remembered his promise that I am a new creation. I remembered why I love what I do and that the sacrifices are worth it. Who I am now is not all of who I will be. I have been so worried that God was done with me, but he is just beginning with me. I am still new. I need to trust in Him and even though things won't always go the way I think they should go and I will face challenges - God's got this under control.

Yesterday I contemplated what I would do if I the chance to move somewhere else - where no one knew me or who I was up to this point. What would I do? Who would I be? I contemplated what it would be like to not be a Christian - and you know what? I couldn't do it. Even in my imagination I cannot fathom a world without God. As the lyrics of one of my favorite Skillet songs tell me, "there's something deep inside that keeps my faith alive." Even through the rough times, which I've had, something keeps my faith alive. Something always brings me back. Something makes me new.

So today, as we all embrace the new year, let's also embrace the promise that you are a new creation in Christ and that God's mercy is new every morning.