A New Year

Last updated on: January 10, 2013 at 12:10 pm by Melissa

A New Year 2013-01-10T12:10:00-07:00 Melissa

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

2013.

I’m not used to it yet. The year sounds silly in my mind, and I find myself writing 2012 on everything still. As we decorated for the holiday season, I found myself remembering the last time I saw these decorations just one year ago. How we got wind of the rumors that had started and the actions being taken, and we wondered how long we would have to leave. Would we be booted from the parsonage within days or weeks? How long would this process take? The uncertainty and tension, the awkward church services, Haley going to intense meetings where she was officially informed of the churches disapproval of her existence, the exhaustion. Packing some of what we owned, and giving away or getting rid of the rest of it. Trying to nail down a location of where we were moving too and making the trip to select a rental.

As I sit here a year later, I feel nothing but relief to be out of that. No longer in that life where one’s financial and societal survival depend on the interpretations of every minor detail of one’s life. I may miss a few of the darling people who we cared for and who cared for us, I may miss some of the aspects of flexibility in scheduling, but I do not miss ministry. Just a few weeks ago I felt my stomach drop at the realization that the following day was a Sunday, before I remembered that I am no longer required to go to church.

In a year that had the chaos of moving and careers changing and my spouses gender transition, we had a surprising amount of stability and wholeness. We have found a new home, with a new community. We’ve journeyed through rejection from family this year, as well as the decision by some to tolerate our differences. I got my first job, and we put our first baby in school. I started last year with the word “Acceptance” in anticipation of what we would be going through. I need help sometimes remembering to accept myself and the fact that I have not “arrived”. And at the end of this year of change, I feel like the word that sums it up best is “strength”.

2013.

I haven’t felt this optimistic about a calendar year in a long time. I am excited about watching my children, my Hunnie, and myself continue to grow. I want to take that acceptance and open embracing of life and it’s unknown from 2012 with me.

2013.

A new year for living. A year for community. A year for peace.

Previous Post

December 18, 2012

What can I even say?

Next Post

January 14, 2013 On Growing Older

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abuse Atheist/Agnostic Conservative Christianity Depression Discipline Education Encouragement Feminism God Healing LGBTQ Life Marriage My Childhood Parenting Politics Reflections Series Shame Uncategorized Updates Who Am I

Select a Month September 2015 May 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a promise made to a childless man that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The covenant with Abraham Circumcision The New Covenant God's promise