Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Round Here We Stay Up Very Very Late

I would like to see science try to explain my new year celebration. "The rythmic motion and cooperation of complex bio-organisms resulting in high levels of emotion-causing endorphins and adrenilins, lasting long past the solar cycle." Maybe I'll put it my own way. I danced the night away, and it was totally awesome. Of course, I wouldn't have been there had there not been a we. There was a plurality. We celebrated, we danced. The joy came in the origins of that plurality. We, Christian friends, brothers, sisters, came together to glorify our Maker through fellowship, feasting, and dancing. We worshiped our Redeemer, celebrating the unity found in our redemtion, revelling in the life in the gracious gifts of our maker, and making merriment together. It makes one glad that we are not a gnostic religion.

So, what do a bunch of young people, under the full blessing of their exhausted parents, do when they are full of celebration and persueing an antithetical culture? IHOP. The fun didn't end with the dancing. Several of us proceeded to the home of eternal breakfast, apparelled in our historic garb, to continue the persuit of fellowship. We created quite a stir, all walking in looking like half-worn rejects from the stage adaptation of Gone With the Wind. When asked how many were to be seated, we did not lie by replying "14, but we need room for 30." So, we sat, we talked, and we ate. Most of us even maintaned intelligent conversation until 3:30 (AM). We finished our evening (ha) around 4:30, and got home around 5. We decided not wait for the sunrise, as we had plans to make church. Our plans were succesful, and I even stayed awake the whole time (on three hours sleep). It will take a reasonable two weeks to recuperate, but there is reason to rejoice in the fatigue.
God has mercifully given life, which we remember with the coming of the new year. He has graciously given friends, with whom to celebrate His gracious gifts.