Hello 2019. by Jessica Cotten

Clarion welcomes Jessica Cotten as a new author to our site.

2018 was, for me, the year of learning to make peace with the unexpected.

Certain things didn't turn out like I had thought they would. At all. I should know by now that life isn't always predictable. Dreams and inklings still have their place, though. I tried to stay away from certainty as much as I could last year regarding those dreams and inklings, but boy did I ever get a few shockers. The last half of the year was spent focusing on letting go, letting go, letting go. I am still learning how to have one foot in the land of "current and present reality", and the other foot in the land of "things earnestly hoped for and dreamed about". It takes a certain amount of introspection and intention to live in such a way where one can accept reality, yet still believe for better. I've been thinking about this concept a lot, and I think it has to do with wholeness.

So for 2019, wholeness is what I want. I have no idea how or where or with whom or what. I just know that what came out of my mouth unexpectedly to my friend the other day is really starting to mean something to me: "I want to be stronger...and softer. Like toilet paper."

So, strength and softness in my heart, please.
I already know it will take change and possibly pain to get me there.
But can it please, please come in surprisingly good ways, too?
"Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good...
and make our efforts successful.
Yes, make our efforts successful!"

*Quote from Psalm 90, NLT

Comments

[Mary Wills]

Such a beautiful, inspiring article. Thank you for writing and sharing it. I love "I am still learning how to have one foot in the land of "current and present reality", and the other foot in the land of "things earnestly hoped for and dreamed about". Me too!

[Tania Harris]

That is so awesome! Letting life's hard circumstances affect change in a positive way instead of negatively.