Analogy.
 While I jogged along the beach as I do every morning, a reflection came telling me that every year brings with it ―in addition to those things I generate on my own― new events and circumstances, that if I am not soundly based on values and principles, as happens to driftwood or dead branches moved about by the desert wind, they will make stray me from reaching what my heart longs for. Some will say this is no discovery, but although we all know this, there are very few who are really conscious of it. Especially when the question is about the values and principles God has established for us to live in compliance to His will.
In this analogy, the beach is my life. And upon deciding to get up early, everyday I choose to submit to the discipline of running/living it. Most of the year there is plenty of room to run between the places caressed by the surf and the protecting walls of the streets and buildings next to the ocean. It is my choice to run over that part where the sand is rendered firm and compact by the water, or over the area where the sand is loose and takes a greater toll on me.
As happens in everyday life, besides my attitude, there are countless elements and factors that may contribute for my jogging experience to be a totally new experience every time.
But, how to make running at the same place be a new experience every day?
To begin with, we must admit that “new” has nothing to do with “different”. What is new is not known in any way, that is… it is something unseen, never before experienced.
 Throughout this past year, and as a result of my own actions, my life was impacted as never before by anything or anyone. It was then that I could finally begin to realize that every morning, where I always run, there are wonderful things happening, and just by paying attention I become conscious of it, just the fact of running/living, carries with it a universe of gifts I never realized were there for me just for the taking. This is, of course, well known to many, though, let me emphasize, knowing is a far cry from real consciousness.
A myriad of elements converge in greeting me with these “new awakenings”. It is always the same place but never the same scenery! Natural things such as the placement of the clouds in the sky, a fresh breeze, the intensity of the breaking waves, the sound of gently receding water over the sand and the pebbles, the flight of a seagull, the occasional fog dancing over the waves, the last bright star to fade; among others, these are the leading actors in a great scenery with a life of its own, it tells me that before so much greatness and power, I am but an insignificant being with no control whatsoever of things, and that for the simple fact of early rising I am awarded with this privilege.
Running/living does not determine my realizing that this exists for me every day. It takes my deciding to be present to observe and experience it, but mainly being grateful to God for it. I am presently conscious that this is the toughest decision I have ever faced. This decision has meant to dare to accept that I can be really free! Free of dogmas, justifications and guilt, by which I ran/lived, enclosed in my world, defending my way of thinking and understanding things. That is, being a slave to selfishness and egotism.
The most relevant of teachings has been realizing that my greatest fear was that of being free. I now observe that if I dare to believe that I am really free, will I see myself as whole and able to fly and connect with the divine, opening the space for God to grant me with those wishes most cherished in my heart.
This bygone year God has allowed me to clearly see that it is my selfishness that has proven most devastating to me and to others. Nothing has been worse than maintaining an attitude for so many years of always wanting to receive what I wanted and the way I  wanted to receive it. And to face this through losing whom I love the most has been the most important lesson I have ever learnt. Sooner or later life claims for justice. Arriving at this stage the way I brought it onto me has been humiliating and painful to my ego and sad to my being. Anyhow, it is through Divine Mercy that I am being granted the greatest opportunity for rebirth. I have discovered it is God’s specialty to turn my errors and their consequences into blessings. I am presently in a process of discipline that allows my character to be forged by Him.
I can presently see that on some occasions, while I run, maybe due to the ruggedness of the terrain, or to the pebbles the ocean brought to the beach, that I must concentrate on every step, without paying attention to what could be the most beautiful dawn that God has created up to this moment. And well, I am learning that there may be such times when I must act like this to avoid a serious fall and its consequences, but I also learn that if I giving control and left myself be guided by Him it will be not so.
Lord, in the name of Jesus I thank you for this gone by year and all its occurrences. I thank you for allowing the participation of all the people, whose contributions and work in programming and sales, has enabled PVMirror to be read by growing numbers of people around the world. Lord, I thank you especially for our readers. It is thanks to You allowing it that they make us move forward. Please bless them all and their families.
Thank You Lord, this New Year I give myself to You to take full control of my life and its detail, asking You to guide my vessel and take me where You want. Please take me as I am for in truth I have nothing else to offer. Today I live and I am aware that I need You more than the very air I breathe.
Thy will be done, always.
Happy New Year, 2007!
Jesús de Avila – El Editor
Email: editor@pvmirror.com
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