2012…Are You Having A Go?

For all of the craziness and transition that was 2011, the New Year is upon us. Even though I the same person that I was on Dec 31, in the same circumstances, with the same strengths and weaknesses, there is yet something about flipping that calendar year that gives me renewed annual optimism.

Here are nine things I’m excited for this coming year:

1. A new term as a student at Oxford that doesn’t involve orientations, setting up new bank accounts, national insurance numbers, meeting tons of new people or finding a home church. It’s time to build on that foundation that was set in 2011. 
2. On Jan. 20 I’m flying to Jordan to work on an archaeological gig at the site of what is believed to be Sodom and Gomorrah. At the 2011 Apologetics Canada Conference, Dr. Steven Collins gave one of the most amazing talks I have ever heard. He invited anyone to come and dig with him and his team. Thought I would take him up on the invitation while I’m “in the area.”
3. Three Words: “Tim Keller February.” Grammatically it doesn’t really work but you get the idea.
4. In March I find out if I’ll be studying as an Oxford student for another 3-4 years. I submitted a research proposal on Canadian Anglicanism between 1960-2010. If that does not excite you, don’t worry - Nobody is ever really interested in someone’s PhD research. Now if only I had wanted to study Bieberism in Canada…now that would be my ticket to stardom!
5. If accepted to the aforementioned, I will be coming home in the summer to live as cheaply and speak as much as possible to save money. That means I get to do camps again. I do love speaking at camps. The old cartoons are starting to collect dust.
6. If, by an act of common grace, the Mayans were right and the world ends in 2012, I’m ready for it. I feel like years between 1981-2011 were satisfying and full for me. During this time I skydived, bungee jumped, drove a Mazda and visited every continent.  ”Come Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20) is a fitting theme for the year (eschatological implications aside).
7. I’m looking forward to learning more about Christian apologetics from whoever wants to teach me. My program goes until the end of June. There is yet much more to learn.
8. I have a month break at Easter and am hoping to see more of the fallen kingdoms of Europe. Also, I have some great friends and family members coming that I will get to give the now infamous, “Oxford Church History Tour.” I give that tour because it is all I really know. I couldn’t tell you much about Oscar Wilde or Lewis Carroll other than one of them was gay and Carroll wrote, “Alice In Wonderland.” 
9. Mystery and providence. How could you really plan out what could happen in a whole year? That’s fodder for the accountants! Not me.