Let's Celebrate!

Today is the 16th of December 2008. That's exactly 15 days to New Year's Day!

What are you going to do as you close this year? One thing we can do is to think of a person or persons whom we'd like to thank, and actually do take the time to thank them. We may want to thank them for their friendship, or because they did something nice for us this year, or to celebrate them even though there was a squabble between us.

Speaking of celebrating, I'm reminded of a book I read called 'Can You Drink This Cup?' by Henri Nouwen. In it, one of the things he talks about, among others, is the importance of holding our own cup - the act of looking in and reflecting on our lives.

"Just living life is not enough. We must know what we are living. A life that is not reflected upon isn't worth living."

He goes on to say that "the cup of life is the cup of joys as much as it is the cup of sorrow"
But what I will remember the most from this book is found in the following paragraph:
"We say to each other: in Latin, 'Prosit' (be well); in German, 'Zum Wohl' (to your well-being); in Dutch, 'Op je gezpndheid' (to your health); in English, 'Cheers'; in French, 'A votre sante' (to your health); in Italian, 'Alla tua salute' (to your health); in Polish, 'Sto lat' (a hundred years); in Ukrainian, 'Na zdorvia' (to your health); in Hebrew, 'L' chaim' (to life). The best summary of all these wishes is, 'to life'. We lift the cup (of life) to life, to affirm our life together and celebrate it as a gift from God. When each of us can hold firm our own cup, with its many sorrows and joys, claiming it as our unique life, then too, can we lift it up for others to see and encourage them to lift up their lives as well. "

Henri Nouwen encourages us not only to reflect on our lives, but also to celebrate it. And so, as year 2008 comes to an end, are you willing to hold your cup and lift it up, saying "to life"?