As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart
I love the truth of what C.S. Lewis said, “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?” Working on this packet, I pulled out similar questions I answered in a notebook last January. Reviewing my reflection on 2018 and goals for 2019, I was reminded how the Lord has been at work. I was also reminded of how powerful it is to write things down and name them.
One summer when I was home from living on the field, I helped my dad in the garden. We had a trellis along the back fence for the clematis. Due to a broken leg, my dad was not able to garden. While part of the clematis was growing up the trellis, much of it was growing as a blob on the ground. I tried to separate the entwined vines and get them started up the trellis. As the summer wore on, some of the clematis vines did grow up the trellis, but it never gained the glory of other summers.
An un-reflected on year is like a blob of vines. Wisdom comes when you ask searching questions, untangling and providing direction for the different parts of your life. “Remember how often Jesus, our teacher, spoke in parables and answered questions with other questions, trying to get us to reflect, think, and grow in wisdom (Matthew 13:10; Luke 20:4; John 16:29).”[1]
This challenge will help you and the Lord reflect on 2019 and plan and dream for 2020. It is specifically designed for Christian Cross-Cultural Workers like you.
When you join you will be sent a 10 page reflection packet.
1. Print it out, transfer questions to a notebook, or type your answers directly into th document—whatever works best for you.
2. Mark your calendar for January 9. or January 15. Join in the private “Reflecting on 2019-Preparing for 2020 Facebook group” (instructions when you join the challenge). Unlike other Facebook groups, this group will only be active for two windows: January 9 and January 15. During those two windows you can interact with others who have also completed this packet. Participate via comments in the group and win one of the 30 prizes provided by the Sponsors of this challenge. (You’ll get a sneak peek on the prizes later this week.)
3. Spend timewith God, your spouse, or a close friend working through this packet.
Join the Facebook Groupfor accountability, community, fun, and prizes. You can participate when it is convenient for you. Opportunities to win prizes will be between 8:00-8:50 a.m. EST, 1:00-1:50 p.m. EST, and 6:00-6:50 p.m. EST on January 9thand the 15th.
Left to on your own, it is easy to be a vine blob not reaching your full potential. So, let’s help each other!
[1]Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, Viking: New York, 2017,
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