I just wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you to you, my dear readers and friends, for your support over the past year. Regular readers of the blog know that this has been a tough year but, through it all, God has been faithful and provided comfort through friends far and near. And in the midst of the darkest times, I've tried to seek Him more — to know more fully what His will is so I can better align my life and my actions with it. It doesn't take long to figure out that it's a never ending quest. We will never truly understand Him until we meet Him face to face — and maybe not even then. But, nonetheless, we are called to be like Him.

And so I encourage you all to join me and to keep seeking God. Keep looking for opportunities — some that maybe He leads you to or some that maybe just happen serendipitously — opportunities to share the love that He has given so freely, which was made manifest in a stable so many years ago, and which we celebrate at this time of year. One of the key phrases at our church is to "change what you care about." Christianity isn't about what we get out of it. Rather, it's about being love in action to a world that is in need and in pain.

I wish you happiness. I wish you joy. Even more, though, I wish you contentment and peace even when times aren't particularly happy or joyful.

I wish you a very merry Christmas.