My Personal Christmas Message

Dear Friends, Family, Readers of my Blog, and Followers of my Twitter Account,

It's customary for me to write a sarcastic Christmas letter every year around this time, but for some reason, I just don't feel this is the year to do that.  No, I'm not going all sappy on you. Yes, you can expect one in the future.  But this year, I really felt the need to write a general letter about specific things.

I'm not good at expressing emotions verbally.  That's why I took up writing this blog.  I can much better express what I want to say in writing than I can with my voice - that is, when it's something from me.  I can easily speak on issues which I am passionate about, but when when expressing my own feelings, I often find myself at a lack of words, or finding myself (gasp) choked up.

2012 has been a tough year for me, and it has reminded me why I need all of you in my life.  At the very beginning of the year (literally - on New Year's Day), our entire household was sick with a stomach bug. I'll spare you the details, but let me tell you it was NOT pretty!  You do the math - 4 people, 2 bathrooms, 2 adults, 2 SMALL children - nothing good can come out of that situation.  But, we healed slowly but surly.

Just a few days later, a very close friend of ours died of a failed heart transplant. My wife and I felt an unbelievable amount of grief.  And if we felt that, I can't imagine what her family felt!  Though it wasn't fair, and it wasn't good, seeing God's people at work was amazing.  Her husband, also a very close friend, was taken care of as were her twin boys she left behind.  Neighbors, Church Members, and Friends from across the country stayed at the house making sure he had every need taken care of.  The sense of community was amazing.  It was something I never saw before.  Our Friends are African - they followed their tradition from their home country.  I think we need to adopt that tradition.  I learned a lot from the people there.  I learned the true meaning of community and love.

I went through a long period of severe migraines.  I've had migraines all my life.  But they were worse than ever.  They rendered me useless for days at a time.  For a while I really thought I was dying from a condition the doctors hadn't discovered.  It turns out that I have several causes to my migraines.  Genetics are not on my side - they run on both sides of my family.  Stress causes migraines, and going to seminary is stressful - the amount of work is literally unreal.  Add on top of that the fact that I pastor a church and have a family.  Don't get me wrong, even if I could, I wouldn't change any of it.  Then the weather also provokes the migraines.  Thankfully, they found a medicine that works most of the time for me.  It's not 100% effective, but it works most of the time.  It took me half the year to start to feel normal again, but I'm getting back to life.

Most of all, I want to thank all of the people in my life.  I can't name each person because I know I'll forget someone.  But, if you are reading this, rest assured, you have in some way made my life better.  You have taught me how to live, you have raise me, you have challenged me, you have read the things I've written, you have disagreed with me, you have encouraged me, you have put up with me when I've been difficult, you have put me back in my place, you have given me knowledge, you have kept me from feeling too arrogant.  Whatever it is, and whoever you are, I thank God for you.  Is this "generic?" Yes.  But, you know who you are, and you know how we've interacted, and you know where you fit in.

I want to thank my family - both immediate family and distant relatives.  In today's world, it's nearly impossible to live close to our families.  But thanks to technology, we can stay in contact.  Of course, it's not the same.  The days of the "living room" polka parties and square dances that my Grandma told me about are gone.  I have to wonder whether we are better or worse without them.  OK, I could do without the polka, but I think you know what I mean.  Just because we are not close in distance, you are all close to me in heart and spirit.  I am who I am because of my family.

I want to thank my friends.  Let me be honest - It's not easy to be my friend.  I have a lot of things that make me, well, unique.  But my friends have put up with me, allowed me to be me, and have been there for me - even when I haven't for them.  I can't ask for a greater group of people.

Through my blog, I've met many people I'll probably never see in person.  Some have been pleasant, some have not.  But either way, I give thanks for each.  They remind me of my importance, but that I'm not "too important."

My new church family deserves a huge thank you!  They received a "new pastor" with open arms.  Yes, we've had our ups and downs, and like any family, we will continue to have those.  But, I can honestly say that I can feel God at work through our Church, and I am honored to serve as your pastor! I am impressed at how you selflessly serve God and others in so many ways.

I want to close by acknowledging my favorite teacher.  I won't mention her name out of privacy.  If you read this and know her, you know who I am talking about.  (You will also know that she'd flip out because I ended the last sentence with a preposition).  She was my High School English Teacher.  She passed away this week after a battle with cancer.  She had been retired, but was not old.  She was more than a teacher, she was a mentor, and dare I say a friend.  She was about 4'6" and weight 90 lbs. if she were soaking wet, but she commanded respect.  Though she could have ruled by fear, she didn't.  She earned respect and showed respect. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a teacher, but once I had her, she was the type of teacher I wanted to be.  I hope that in my teaching career I was only half as effective and made even a partial impact that she did.  The world is a better place because she lived, and Heaven is a better place because she is there now.  But, I don't despair because as she always said, "We have miles to go..."

Friends, Readers, Family - "We have Miles to Go..."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tom