I sure hope 2013 is as great as 2012 and I sure hope 2013 is a lot less painful than was 2012. Conflicting thoughts? Yes they are, but then 2012 was a very interesting year for me.
Last year Sandra and I had some of the most exquisite, incredible hiking and camping we have ever experienced. We roamed over the Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park and Kootenay National Park in Canada and in Glacier National Park in Montana. We saw mountain splendour that we can’t even begin to describe. We were close to mountain sheep, mountain goats, black bears, grizzly bears, marmots, deer and many more animals. It was an awe inspiring summer. However, to offset that, I suffered a horribly broken shoulder and ribs in February when a snowboarder ran into me while I was teaching a ski lesson. Then in December I suffered a devastating injury to my lower right leg while skiing which resulted in surgery, a long hospital stay, a stainless steel plate at my knee and a titanium rod through my fibula between the knee and ankle. The new year begins with orders not to put any weight on my leg until the middle of February. So it was a great year to remember and also one to forget.
One of my favourite Bible verses is Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Good or bad, happy or sad, joy or pain, God is working for my good. It is easy to see that in fun times, but we often question what God is doing when things hurt. I trust my Lord with my life. I trust that he will use even my serious injuries for good. I can’t see it right now, maybe I will never understand, but I will continue to trust my wonderful Lord. God is good.
