In a book I was reading recently the author made a comment about how he wondered if God created the night to be dark as a way to quiet the noise and color of the day and force us to stop and think. I can't help but wonder if that is why we have the beginning and ends of days and years. Time is broken into chew-able increments to allow us the opportunity to sent new goals with the start of each new day/year and to stop and reflect on how we have failed or how God has helped us succeed at the end of the day/year.

A few months ago when I realized that 2008 was on its last legs, and another year full of all kinds of struggles and adventures was approaching, I started thinking about what I wanted out of 2009.

The first thing that came to my mind was my hopes to do some traveling this year, and while there are a few opportunities that may work out, I realized I need to learn to be a 100 per cent content with what God has me doing right now. Its time I stopped looking at what I don't have and learned to find peace in what God has given me.

Recently I have also been struck with how fast time goes and I have also realized how poor I am at time management. I realized "my time" really isn't mine; God has allotted me a small amount of time and I have not always been using it wisely. Before I know it my time will be up will I have used it to glorify God?

In the past 5 years I have made several half hearted attempts to learn a second language each time failing because I didn't have the desire to pull through when it was not longer fun. But I know somewhere down the road I am going to regret that.

I have set three goals for myself, I know I will not always succeed, but between now and the end of 2009 I have 357 more opportunities to try, learn from my mistakes and discover God's grace.