Another year gone by ... so quickly

Greetings, dear readers Well here we are, at the end of another year, and as always I can't believe how fast it has flown by! From my perspective, this year can be summed up in one word: transition. For many friends and family members, this has been a year in closing a chapter of their lives and opening a new chapter, whether through marriage, changing jobs, finishing high school or university studies, turning 21, and becoming parents. I wouldn't be surprised if you fit in at least one of these categories. I know of a few friends who fit in two of the categories, and if you happen to fit in three of them, or even all five (which is possible) then you've DEFINITELY had an eventful (and very expensive) year!

This time of the year is also often a time of reflection on lessons learned over the course of the year, which are many, but I shall focus on the two main lesson I learned that I shared at the end-of-year Bible Study Fellowship gathering. Both are interrelated. First, when you ask God to make a challenge easy for you, He will make it more difficult for you in some way or another so that you are forced to trust completely in Him and He gets all the glory. I found this out when I began volunteering work at Louise Multicultural Community Centre in August this year. The second is that God's amazing grace is more than enough to get us through any situation, especially those where we can't quite see the finish line. I learned that the hard way through my studies in this the final year of my undergraduate Arts degree.

Including the transitions mentioned above, some of the highlights of this year included:

• Completing my Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, with majors in Linguistics and Political Science and a Diploma of Modern Language in German. As already mentioned, it was only by the grace of God I was able to somehow stumble to the finish line, because by my own admission i did not deserve to pass any of my subjects, so slack and disorganized was I this whole academic year. Well, the main thing is that it's over now, and I have to start refocusing my studies on what I aim to be doing next year - teaching English overseas.
• Finding volunteer work at Louise Multicultural Community Centre in Box Hill. I have said before, and you can quote me on this, that everyone who has the opportunity in life should do three things, besides hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, getting saved, and living for Him. First, learn to sing; second, learn at least one foreign language; and third, do volunteer work. I use the generic term because today, there are so many different options open for volunteering, ranging from local community services to international education, conservation and development projects. I can definitely recommend Louise to anyone who is interested in a career of English teaching and wants to get some free experience. The staff there are friendly and helpful and the students, who range through different levels, are all enthusiastic and appreciative of your time.
• It was yet another busy year in the entertainment world, with the passing of at least three major icons (Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett - both on the same day - and Patrick Swayze, just to name a few), and the totally unexpected emergence of SUSAN BOYLE, the 40+ year old church volunteer from Scotland who blew the cynics of Britain's Got Talent away with that performance of "I Dreamed a Dream". In case you haven't seen it yet, you can view it here. She has since recorded a best-selling debut album and recently sang with Elaine Paige. Andrea Bocelli is apparently interested in also recording a duet with her. I hope Susan continues to enjoy more success over the coming years, and that she also maintains her boisterous and humble roots.

I gave up making New Year's Resolutions years ago, under the premise that resolutions, like rules, are made to be broken. Instead, I have come up with what I hope I can achieve this coming year. As always, I hope to become closer to God, through developing more consistency in prayer, bible study and quiet time. I'll need it, especially if I'm going to start full-time work next year. I also hope that God will point me to a full-time English teaching job that I can be passionate about and will be able to serve him to the best of my capacity. And quietly, just quietly, I hope to find a girlfriend. God knows that I've been longing for a female companion for some time, and while it is hard to wait on His perfect timing, I trust he has the right woman waiting for her "Prince Charming" somewhere around the world, if not in Australia.

There is no doubt in my mind that 2010 promises to be the most exciting year of my life since 2007. And so it is, with mixed feelings of apprehension and hope, that I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year Celebration and all the best for 2010!

Cheers and God bless.