Reflections
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
My favorite landscape pictures are those of reflections.
You know, where a mountain is perfectly reflected in a lake, or when the clouds in the sky are reflected in a pool of water. There is something about those types of reflections that are tranquil, peaceful, and healing to the soul.
Other reflections may not cause the same tranquil reaction. You know the bed head reflection that stares back at you in the bathroom mirror. Or the wild hair day reflection in the mirror at work after you have run through the wind and rain to your office. Those mirror reflections sadly tell us the brutal truth when it comes to how we look.
Some reflections are mental reflections that take place at times like the end of a year.
It is good to look back on the year and reflect on the years events; to see the joys of the past year and contemplate those good times. It is also good to reflect on the trials of the previous year and consider what was learned and how we grew from those experiences. It is good to also look back to think of the people that are in our lives, continue to be in our lives, and those that are no longer with us. We can also stop and reflect on the state of our world at large and that also would make one depressed. Our world is in a tough place and to reflect on this year would certainly emphasize that fact.
Reflections bring up all sorts of feelings and thoughts.
The best reflection as one looks back over the year is to realize that, through it all, God walked with us. In the gospel commission given by Jesus to all of us He tells us that we are to share Jesus with this world and encourage people to follow him. He also gives a great promise when He said
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
As you reflect on this past year and all that has happened, may you take courage in the promise that God was with you and will continue to be with you always. As you look to next year, may you also pray that God will place someone in your path that you can share the love of Jesus with and that they will be in the kingdom of heaven with you and Jesus for all of eternity.