Could it possibly be 2011 already? It seems that I am never ready for the New Year, but this year circumstances have been particularly challenging. I've been away from blogging for a while because I spent much of December with my father as he courageously lived the last stage of his life with ALS. He died on December 18th surrounded by many loved ones.

The familiar sights and sounds of the Advent and Christmas season seemed different to me through the lens of loss and grief. For one thing, I was away from the rhythm of pastoral and liturgical life. In this way, the holiday season snuck up on me. Could it be that Christmas has passed and the New Year is already upon us?

Yet, no matter what happens in our lives, Christ comes. Christ enters our imperfect world to offer hope and peace to all who are hurting. Thanks be to God.

I am reminded of this passage from M. Louise Haskin's poem, The Desert. "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, that shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.' So I went forth and finding the Hand of God trod gladly into the night."

Whatever our journeys, God goes with us. This is the Gospel ~ the Good News ~ at the New Year and always.