HAPPY NEW YEAR???

I would expect to see !!! rather than ??? following the Happy New Year statement, wouldn't you? And just in case you wonder if my hangover from New Year's Eve celebrations have caused the mistake, let me assure you that this time, it was on purpose! Last night was a little different celebration for our family. Although we had all 7 of us home, 2 of us were sick (to the point of not sitting next to each other or being close to one another) and 2 of us seemed "on the edge" of sickness. We still were able to (from different rooms) talk about our highs and lows of 2013, and pray for one another as we enter a New Year (although the prayer time was around 6 p.m. rather than midnight - does that still count?). Normally, we have a lot of people over and play games, and then go watch the ball drop on TV, with about a minute left to midnight.
It was a little different this year.

The 2 "sickies" were in bed long before midnight, but the rest of us watched the last 10 minutes to the ball dropping, going back and forth between 3 different stations. I was not used to watching more than the last minute before the ball drops; and after watching several minutes from 3 different stations, I started placing question marks instead of exclamation points at the end of the phrase: Happy New Year. This is why (only based on the small sampling I viewed):

• No goals to shoot for in 2014. They lamented that setting goals makes no difference because no one keeps those goals (New Year's resolutions) very long. That may be true, but having nothing to shoot for in the New Year pretty much guarantees a year of "seeing what happens" and if anything, pursuing things that are not really important.
• Nothing to say - The channels I watched in those last 10 minutes were using commercials very freely; and when they weren't on commercial, in all 3 cases, they were having a very hard time finding anything substantive to say. It seemed odd to me, especially in a business where talking is what they are paid for, that they couldn't come up with a good conversation for the final minutes of 2013 and anticipating the new year. 
• Let's go with sex - It seemed like, in the last several minutes of the countdown to the new year, the best thing the stations could think of talking about and showing, had to do with sensual images and talk of girls kissing one another being the highlight of the night. I have nothing against sex. God created it and it is an awesome thing when used His way. I should not have been surprised, but when they didn't seem to know what to show or talk about, the default was sexuality.

These are the 3 things that come to my mind as I think about the final 10 minutes of the New Year, from the media's perspective. And, of course, with the actual ball dropping, there then came a lot of kissing, noise making and drinking. And unfortunately, because of 1 of the significant "sickies" in my household, there was no kissing for me! My limited view of how they perceived the end of last year and the beginning of this New Year caused me to place the question marks in my head, and now in this entry. 

Followers of Jesus have a much greater opportunity for a Happy New Year!!! 

• There are many blessings to praise God for from 2013
• The fact that we are still here means that God is still saving people and still using us
• Each new day brings opportunities to learn of God and to walk with Him
• There are many blessings to praise God for, already, in 2014 (family, friends, life, etc.)
• We can have peace and joy, in any circumstance (past, present or future) because we have Christ!
• Jesus may return in 2014!
• If our complete satisfaction is in Christ, then we are guaranteed a Happy New Year (because even death brings us a greater reward).

So, let's enter into 2014 with !!! even as there are many ??? as to what we might face in the New Year. The !!! are what we already have and know about who is in control of the future; and this allows us to !!! in the midst of many ??? that will arise. I don't feel I am making a whole lot of sense so far in 2014; but I am willing to continue to give full effort! May you find your happiness this year in the only source that provides true joy, peace, and eternal life!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!