Hello, November

I notice that a lot of my journals on the first of a month begin with a welcome, saying “hello” to the new month and thank you and “goodbye” to the month that has just passed. I’m not sure when this practice began or from where it came, but I enjoy greeting each new month this way. 

Hello, November!

It’s good to see you again.

I'm ready to see what you have to offer.

Goodbye, October.

Thank you for helping me grow a little older and a little wiser.

I hope to see you again next year. 

I never know what each new month and I have in store for each other, but I always begin excited to see where the new month will take me. 

Each month is a mystery and an adventure. 

For years, I have been on a great quest for LOVE, JOY, and PEACE in my life. And it seems that I find that love, joy, and peace most often when I faithfully greet each new moment, day, and season of my life with trust (faith), openness (hope), and connection (love). THAT is an adventure. To trust. To be open. To connect. This great mystery of life begs for our awe, wonder, surprise, and delight. 

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. In one classic song, he reminds us that, We've got a trail to blaze through the wild, blue yonder of God's Amazing grace. Let's follow our leader into the Glorious unknown. This is the life like no other. This is the Great Adventure. 

This adventure leads us through the mountains and valleys of life, and the adventure never ends. But we need that faith, that hope, and that love to sustain us through that mystery to come. We’ve heard it said that questions lead us on a quest, while statements lead us to a state. I would much rather be on a quest than in a state. Life is too wonderfully mysterious to think I have the answers. And it seems we don’t need answers. We need to be trusting, open, loving, and faithful to each new moment, day, month, and season that finds us. I am grateful to welcome this quest for a life that is far greater than any state. And I thank you, November, for reminding me of this.