Year in Pictures

I love this time of year. Most of the big projects are done by this time--homework, papers, card writing, present buying, sermon writing--well maybe not all of it--but we're getting close!

I also love it because it's like our "twilight." It's the end, and it's the beginning. It's our time to reflect on this past year, and it's our time to re-gear and re-center for the next year.

I got one of my favorite Christmas presents today. It's not from family or friends--though my growing amaryllis from a parishioner is pretty cool--but it's from MSNBC, of all things.

Each Friday they publish their "Week in Pictures." It's one of the highlights on my day off. It's the first thing I click into in the morning. I love to see the photos and experience the news in a unique way.

My present was that today MSNBC published their "Year in Pictures"--both news and sports. The slide shows recap 2008 in a way like no other. The photos are stunning and vivid, heartbreaking and heartwarming, complicated and simple, fresh and a good reminder of all that has happened in the last 12 months.

I was reminded of the floods in the Midwest, the Russian bombings, war in Kenya, Hurricane Ike, the jet crash and rebel fighting in the Congo, Michael Phelps' victories, the storms in the west, the volcanic eruption in Chile, the May 12th earthquake in China, the economic crisis, Obama's election...

Anyway, I recommend checking it out, if you have extra time in the next few days (follow the link above). Plus you get to vote for your favorite pic!

Have fun, and enjoy!

Peace--
HGJ