A new year. It’s really hard to believe. 2008 passed by so quickly.

Something I tend to do near the beginning of every year is to review my rock pile. It has a lot of rocks in it and each one means something special to me. If you were looking at my rock pile all you would see are rocks. Rocks from the yard, rocks from the creek bed, rocks in every shape size and color. This year the rock pile has a greater meaning for me than in previous years. I hope to be able to add a really large rock to it in a few days.

Let me tell you a bit about my rock pile. It started a long time ago when I heard a message at church about an altar built in the wilderness. The altar was built next to a river out of stones. The message went on to say that each stone meant something to the builder. I’ve forgotten who preached the message but it’s been a while back. Since then, I’ve built my own rock pile. I have to admit it started out quite small with only a few stones.

There are stones that represent times I’ve been healed, or passed a particularly hard exam, stones for groceries, stones for needs and desires, and there are even some stones that represent nothing. Some of the stones I’ve kept there because God supplies your needs but he also gives you the desires of your heart. Some of the desires that he has given me have not panned out the way I thought they would and I have kept those stones to remind me that it isn’t always what I want that is beneficial. Some stones are things I’ve asked for and asked for that haven’t been addressed at all that I can see. Just rocks that mean something to me personally.

Since it is the beginning of the new year, I’ve found myself once again reflecting on the rocks in my pile. As I said, I hope to add a large rock to my pile here in a few days. The great thing about adding rocks is that you quit carrying them around in order to add them to your personal altar.

I challenge those of you who read this to build your own rock pile. It can be a figurative pile in your mind, but take the time to pick up each stone and examine it. Some of the stones will be placed in mortar, they will always be there to remind you. There some some that may be loose, who knows when you will experience a moment of self-doubt or agony that will make you pick up a stone and throw it. Some stones may come and go in your memories, but the ones that mean something to you will be forever in the back of your mind reminding you of the path you’ve chosen in life.

God bless and Happy New Year.