Hello? Is this thing on?

Well, hello there. It's been a long time (well, for me, more than a month IS a long time) since I posted anything, so I thought it would be nice to check in :-) Day to day life has been pretty much the same-no big adventures lately-but in the past month, my heart has been pretty heavy for some friends/family who are enduring trials, and between that and the normal stresses of life, I just haven't felt like writing anything to share publicly.

I've been sort of privately participating in WEverb11, and up until prompt 8, my responses had been pretty short and sweet. When I was writing yesterday, I finally felt some inspiration, and just went with it. Having nothing else of interest to share with you today, I thought I would begin sharing what I wrote. It's sort of long, so I'll break it up over a few days.

What was the biggest choice you made in 2011? What caused you to choose what you chose?

Since my recollection of recent events is fresh, it may not actually be the case that what I believe to be my biggest decision of 2011 is actually my biggest decision of 2011. However, I think the decision producing the most change in my heart, and consequently in my lifestyle, would be the decision to see the bigger picture. Instead of introspection and self-interest, I now choose to observe the world around me, to understand the greatness of God and the reality of this world. This has many implications. Firstly, with regard to my thinking: I am less obsessed with myself and my own feelings (though, admittedly, I am still self-absorbed and will likely struggle with that as long as I live in this fallen world). It is hard to be interested in oneself when there is such a grand universe to be seen and explored; when there is an eternal God whose glory is displayed in the heavens and the earth. Secondly, I find myself more inclined to think of others...to sympathize with their struggles and heartaches. I have shed more tears for my friends in recent months than I think I have since I first believed, and those tears have been more heartfelt than any I have shed on my own behalf to mourn my own *perceived* suffering. Thirdly, I have experienced less anxiety about temporal things such as money, whether I will ever be married, what people think about me, etc. My thoughts have been more centered around eternity future, and the joys to be had there, than the things I lack this side of the grave. Finally, my eyes have been opened to so much beauty in creation.

To Be Continued...