Dear UMA Members and Friends,
I am sitting in front of the woodstove on this New Year’s morning wondering if we will finally see some snow in Aurora this afternoon!
For me personally, 2024 was a bit of a challenging year, certainly not the worst, but not one of the easiest either. It began in early January when, on a snowy day, I saw dark lines coming down my eye and then a red patch at the top of the eye. Two surgeries later my eye is still without sight, just a mass of blurry distortion, but as I was told would happen, most of the time, my brain has adjusted and I can still function in my Barbe way.
A short time after my eye surgeries, my son Brandon had a very bad knee injury, after a six hour surgery, the surgeon said it was one of the worst she had seen. He was laid up on a bed in the den for over a month before he could make it to his room. He still has not fully recovered.
Then of course was the closing of Wells which hit me so hard on many levels. My personal connection with the college as an alumna and active presence on campus speaking, teaching and working with interns. And Brandon’s job which was the best job for him that I could hope for given some of his challenges, he still has not found anything despite trying hard.. And Zaki, who was looking forward to his senior year playing soccer.
And there were a few other personal challenges.
But, as Christmas reminds us, there are always bright spots where the light shines in filled with the Holy Presence of God and Christ working in our lives. There was the outpouring of love from all of you and others, there was the very exciting event welcoming Zaki, Farin and Masih as citizens of the United States! There is my home filled with a diverse group of young adults, dogs and cats and lots of love. And there is the United Ministry of Aurora, a church where the Holy Spirit is so present as soon as I walk in the door. It is a blessing to serve as pastor of a church and community filled with so much love for one another, for the community and for the world.
As we lit the Advent candles and prayed for hope, peace, joy and love, I thought about this past year and how my life was filled, despite some challenges, with hope, peace, joy and love. And now I remind myself, and all of you, that our lives ARE filled with hope, peace, joy and love DESPITE the challenges, and that in addition to praying for the four promises of Advent, we are called to also be agents of those promises of hope, peace, joy and love – in both small and big ways!!
May it be so!
With love and blessings to all for this new year!
Barb