As we approach one of the biggest days in the Christian calendar, the birth of Jesus Christ and reflect back on the year gone as we will soon be welcoming a brand new year in. Its made me take a step back and think about how 2025 has been. Its been an interesting year with lots going on and I have God to be thankful for all the stuff I've done this year from winning a court case regarding a car accident that happened back in September 2024 but don't worry I wasn't injured to meeting new people throughout the year.
We often take for granted a lot of things in this world but its the smaller things we need to be great full for. But what do i mean by this, well, do you have clothes on your back, food in your belly, a roof over your head, great family & friends and a good job. We have to spare a thought this year other people who may not have anyone this year for the festive period or may not be able to afford presents for their children or those on the streets. This is why i think most people who say they aren't rich. But there are different ways of being rich in this world that are not financially based. Its these simple things that make us rich. Like helping those around us and offering someone a hot meal. This is what Jesus would have done all those years ago. I watched a bit of king of kings yesterday and this reminds me. That Jesus didn't abuse his powers and helped those that truly need it as super power isn't like magic in a marvel movie but smaller things that make us better. I truly believe people have the power to change their lives. Sure you might argue, what about people who aren't in the position to change their lives. In this event pray for a person, even pray for your enemies. That's what Jesus would have done he would have prayed for all those that tortured him. He gave so much up for the life we had today and a way back to the father. For years I've studied the bible to gain a greater understanding about Jesus and have my own view points on this. Jesus said he is the only way to the father, but what does this mean? Well I don't agree with certain fractions of Christianity that you say a prayer to get into heaven, if still to be judged. What i truly believe is you get to the father by being more Christ like on earth. But what does this mean? well, the good Samaritan comes to mind. Its a lesson that i try to live by every day. It doesn't mean, trying to get someone to church and adding to those all important stats in the world of how many convert to Christianity no. it means helping a neighbour paint a fence or help someone do their Shopping or help someone across the road, be someone's shoulder to cry on. That is how you truly go through Jesus to get to the father.
But how does this relate to a reflection of 2025? Well, by living a life according to God, i look back at how blessed I've been through out the year and Christmas is a good time for reflection when the dark nights are here and the winter solstice has happened leading a way to a new year with new life.
But have i learnt anything from this year? Yes, a prime example is my car accident, by speaking the truth and sticking to my guns i won the case against a big insurance company. There were times when i wanted to pull out of it going to court, but i believe god gave me the strength to stick to my guns. What I realised, we can all live in a world of doubt, and sure, it could have gone the other way, but i won. It took some time to sink in. I believe that god gives us trying times to test us to see if we remain true to God.
Some people might say what about all the talk of hell fire and eternal punishment. I do believe, what ever the after life may look like, i truly don't believe that god truly want's to hurt any of his children but more teach them a lesson. Not by some burning alive kind of torture but trying to get us to come to some kind of understanding why what we did was wrong.
The bible is very clear on certain parts of this world, what is right and what is wrong, sometimes you do have to bite your tongue. Its each persons free will to believe in what they do and how their choices impact other people. Sure there is some grey area around this in terms of how people or why they do what they do. For example a child soldier, raised by bad people, and that child soldier kills someone, are they guilty or the person that gave them the gun in the first place. What i am trying to say is I don't think the judgement of sin is simply black and white much like our legal system.
Have i made any changes to my life to make it more Christ like? Nothing major this year, i have invested in some more scripture book, ones missing from the bible to gain a greater understanding of God and the teachings he offers us. So in a kind of reflection way, i looked back at 2025 and learned that I need more scripture in my life so I put steps in action to make that happen and I am so glad i did as what I am reading is really good a fresh and different perspective. Some people might say, oh, but its all in the bible, well, i hate to say this, but some books didn't make it in the final edition of the bible some bits would have been left out and im sure, in the deep vaults of the Vatican there is even more.
So its been more inner reflection than outer reflection I've done not worked as much on my outer reflection and i guess this is what i needed in 2025. To understand better what i need to grow as a person going into 2026 and this is very true. Sure I've tried new things made mistakes but we all do.
A prime example, is i ordered takeout using Just eat a couple of weeks back, ordered the food, it got to the door, i took the bag off the delivery lady, it felt a bit light, so i started to dish up, only to realise I hadn't double checked what i had ordered when i clicked the big pay button. What i realised upon reflecting on this is a lesson to double check what you order and read the small text.
2025 has been another big year for my in the realms of Digital Art and I am so grateful to god for this, sure some people might say well, you did it your self and not through god, but i disagree, as its god who gives me the skills in the first place, we are all messengers of gods work and by sharing my art with people i made other people happy about their day. I didn't go into drawing with that intention but was a nice ripple in a pond effect.
I find it quite amusing how little things can trigger memories. For example, and why this post has photographs of me and mum baking, is mum let me like the bowl with the cake mixture in it, and this was something, around this time of year, mum would let me do, lets be honest, who doesn't like licking cake mixture out of a bowl. Again upon reflection of this and reliving that exciting childhood memory it reminds my how important friends and family are in our lives. Sure we don't always get on, but we all do okay in the end, as my nan used to say. We may have ups and downs but they are family.
What i am trying to say, in a nutshell, as I reflect on this past year, I've made more investments in myself not big changes but little changes and that's sometimes all that is needed. Not some big, I've eaten too much over Christmas and hit the gym changes but like small ripples in the pond i will continue to grow as a person.
To all my readers and visitors I wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year.
