Thursday, January 1, 2026
The Year of the Tilted Halo: Finding Grace in the Mess As I sat down today, January 1, 2026, to reflect on the dawn of a new year, I couldn't help but laugh at the version of myself from just a few days ago. I had spent the final weeks of 2025 on a relentless mission. I was determined that before the ball dropped, every baseboard would be scrubbed, every junk drawer organized, and every speck of dust banished. My logic was spiritual: God pours His blessings into new wine skins. I convinced myself that if my physical environment wasn’t pristine, I wasn’t "ready" for what He had in store. I was channeling my inner Martha, convinced that perfection was the prerequisite for favor. But as it turns out, God has a beautiful sense of humor—and a much better perspective on "cleanliness" than I do. When "Life" Meets the To-Do List The more I demanded perfection from myself, the more Life decided to throw a monkey wrench into my plans. For every room I sanitiz...