2020 will certainly have its ups and downs for you and me, just like any year does. But we no longer need to be searching for our identity in outer things. Our relationship with God flows from a deep knowing that we are the beloved daughters and sons of God.

Like the wisemen in the Christmas story, we’re on a journey into the unknown. Though we often shy away from acknowledging and embracing our fears, we can befriend our most difficult moments and expect God’s light to shine brightest in those times when we lack hope.

May you complete this Christmas season deeply knowing and trusting in your immense value and belovedness. Let Love discover you, be filled with this Love, and experience the hope, joy, and peace of living in your true identity: a beloved daughter, or son, of God.

Perhaps I’m living in a fantasy world to think that we could possibly find any peace right smack in the middle of the Christmas season! But I believe that we can, that we can carve out even just a few minutes here and there to quiet our minds and hearts.

When we look to the world around us to bring us joy — looking to our activities or to other people — we tend to live in constant frustration, for often life is not giving us what we think we need. Joy actually comes from inside of us — from a conscious presence to the present moment, and from a renewed inner awareness of Christ’s presence.

Optimism is a great start! But the person of hope lives in the moment with a general knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands, and without the need to know exactly how everything will turn out.

Gratitude has a powerful effect on our bodies, minds, and spirits.  Appreciating even the little things, and seeing the good that is already in your life, helps us stay present to the present moment, and creates a tendency for even more good things to come into your life.T

Am I living my life in the way I’m meant to? Have I rehearsed enough, have I explored enough, have I nailed down some core values and a sense of what I’m called to at this present moment enough that I can say I’m ready for “opening night”?

Today we look at a final aspect of the transition curve: yielding to, rather than opposing the flow of life.  This is surrender, a stance we can choose which greatly affects our next beginnings, and our ways of interacting with life and with God.

Liminal space -- a “threshold,” in-between time of “what was” and the “next”. Simultaneously we may experience excitement and anticipation mixed with lots of uncertainty and confusion. It’s a natural time to say, “I’m lost here. Help me, God!”