The Real Joy

It's Christmas Eve. Of course, just like when I was a child, I am thinking mostly about what "Santa" is gonna throw down the chimney tonight. I'm sure most everyone else reading this can relate...no matter your age. But I was doing a bit of thinking, and what I came to realize is this: this year is gonna be different. The end of this year is the end of a decade and the birth of a new one. Yeah yeah the same thing happened on January 1, 2000 but I was young then and didn't have a care in the world. Now that I'm older, I can understand the impact that 10 years can make. As I look back, the past 10 years have honestly, for me, been kinda mediocre. The good things of the past decade far exceed the negative, but I feel things could have been a lot better...not just for me but for everyone.

With this in mind, I know that no matter how happy Christmas morning makes me, it will not compare to the joy of starting my next 10 years. The joy of tomorrow can not simply be contained within my living room. It is silly to think that. The real joy is standing outside my front door, and its name is Expectation.

I'm abnormally excited about the next 10 years if you haven't figured that out already. I hope it will be a time of much love and laughter and cherishing every moment you have with those important to you. That is my wish. I pray that myself and the world grows closer together and to God. I hope that maybe we can sort of get away from the technology boom that occurred over the past 10 years (Facebook, iPhones, etc.) and start experiencing the "real world" and real human emotions. I hope that our military is kept safe and that a major conflict will delay for at least 10 more years. I hope that good music will continue to be discovered. I hope that no matter the trials we face throughout the next decade, we still understand that it is all part of a bigger plan than we can understand. I hope that the hype of 2012 doesn't tear us all apart. And I hope that our world leaders can guide us through rough times and bring justice around the globe.

Who knows what the next 10 years has in store. Maybe I will finally know what it is I'm supposed to be doing here. Maybe I can love and show compassion like never before. Maybe I will meet THE girl of my dreams.

The next 10 years is gonna be crucial. I encourage everyone to live it and enjoy every second of it. I know I'm gonna try. I hope everyone finds the real joy in life over the next 10 years, whatever that means for you. My expectations are high, I know, but I think its possible.

God bless,
Zach