Question Book

My wife, Jami, and I were gifted with what I’ll call a question book last year. It poses a question every day and there are spaces to answer these questions three years in a row. These questions range throughout myriad topics. “Who do you admire?” “If you could wake up anywhere in the world, tomorrow, where would that be?” etc.

Since we are in the second rotation through the questions, we generally try to cover up what we answered last year as we write down this year’s responses. After this year’s answers are written down, we then compare them with what we answered last year.

In some instances, we are remarkably consistent! In others we are markedly different. That brought to mind the following exchange:

“Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,” said Gandalf. “I fear it may be so with mine,” said Frodo. “There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same.”—J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

In each year there are experiences – accomplishments, losses, observations – which leave us changed. Perhaps you had time to reflect on that as December came to a close.

Thankfully, we have Someone Who watches over us, to see us through. He has loved us with a deep, abiding love, and He is always the same. Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God bless you throughout 2024.