Hello my bloggy world.
It's December 30, 2010. Tomorrow is year's end. Time for reflections, closings, endings, and looking aheads.
The past year has clearly been difficult, as my blog attests. It's ending on a positive note. I'm employed! A rather large department store at the mall hired me for the "signing team". This means I show up a couple mornings a week at a terribly early hour and "flip the sale". This means turning all the pricing signs to the current day's prices, as well as putting up all the special signs for sales. Not the really big signs, that's for some other team. The senior members of my team each have a rolling cart and a designated department. I'm roving helper (but I really want my very own cart! lol). It's humble but it's good honest work and I'm grateful for it. I'm a bit puzzled that I'm now dependent for income on the very consumer culture that I critique so heavily, but at least in the solitary twilight of retail mornings there is plenty of time for theological reflection (they don't turn on all the lights or the music system, and I work alone).
The other positive note - and just as happy-making as earning an income - is that I'm writing again. As I write this blog I am half way through my very last academic coursework paper. When I finish it tomorrow and ship it off via email, I can say that I'm ready to move on to the next phase of my program. It feels good to be productive again!
Looking over my blog, I realized that last year and this one I only posted about once a month. I hope to post more often next year. 2010 has been difficult, but overall a good year. Lots of good memories made, some adventures, good challenges to face. As I think about what I would like to accomplish in the coming year, I would like to be more diligent about this blog. Some posts about life in general as I've done lately but more about mission and other theological issues.
Many people will make New Year's Resolutions in the next few days. Last year one of mine was to floss more. I do now! :-) In 2011, I want to (aside from blogging more) complete my comprehensive examinations and submit my dissertation proposal; exercise more regularly; make a hike that requires a backpack and camping on the trail (not too long); run another 5k; and various financial goals.
Now that these resolutions for 2011 are out here on the great weird wide web, I suppose someone will ask me about them in March - here's hoping that I'll remember!
Best wishes for a fantastic celebration to ring in the new year, dear readers!
