Nancy Beach

What a Difference a Year Makes

     This morning I'm boarding a flight for Sante Fe, New Mexico, where I'll be involved in location scouting for a television movie that will start shooting the first week of January.  I serve as the Associate Producer for this film, titled Dear Annie, and will be based in New Mexico for most of next month.

     Last year at this exact time I was at the very center of 12 Christmas services at Willow Creek, serving as Executive Producer. If you had whispered to me at that time what I would be doing just 12 months later, I would have been incredulous. I am learning all over again that we never truly know where the intriguing pathways of life will take us, where the opportunities for a new adventure might lurk, what relationships might lead to a surprising twist, an unexpected fork in the road. As we listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit and hold everything loosely, I am convinced we will occasionally be astonished at the place we suddenly find ourselves.

     As you enter the new year, I want to urge you to stay open.  Some of us will remain planted in a work we have been engaged in for years and years. For all those faithful folks, I hope your passion will continue to flame stronger than ever, that you will not take for granted the wonder of your calling. Others might be sensing a certain restlessness, that maybe, just maybe, something new is in the wind. If that fits your place in life these days, do not be afraid, as the angels proclaimed. Our God can be trusted even in the scary in-between places that feel so uncertain. I hold tightly to the Scripture that reminds me His ways are infinitely higher and wiser than our ways, and He wants to give each one of us a future and a hope.

     So off I go to a role that is not yet comfortable (and maybe never will be), to a new team and a new identity.  And yet, it's still the same me with the same strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, with the same Heavenly Father walking with me every step of the way.

     I pray a special blessing on those of you in the thick of serving our God in Christmas services, sacrificing so much of your own holiday for the enrichment of others. May you know the peace and deep delight of a job well done, even in the midst of too much on your "to do" list. And when Christmas day dawns, may all of us breathe a huge thank you to the God who is WITH US no matter what.

Nesting

There's a bit of an Arctic blast blowing outside here, so I have hunkered down and invested a day in cooking (yes, I do that occasionally), Christmas card writing, gift wrapping, and checking my lists for the rest of this busy week.  Most of all, I"m preparing the nest for the return of one of my precious little birds who flew off to Ghana for over 4 months.  All will feel right with the world when Samantha sits down to our dinner table once again tomorrow night.  I made one of her favorites, Chicken Tetrazzini, and just hope her jet lag isn't so awful that she can't stay awake for supper!

Warren and I are deeply grateful for the impact this experience has had on our daughter. We truly believe Ghana came about as a leading from the Spirit in her life. She will never be quite the same in some significant ways. It will be delightful to unpack the adventure with her over the next couple weeks, and to come alongside her as she seeks re-entry into the First World where the food is not so spicy, where it's about 100 degrees colder (that's right!), and where she will fight the battle of feeling like we have too much and yet enjoying a hot shower and "normal" meals once again. The bigger adjustments will come when she returns to the performance challenges at Northwestern, the kind of schedule that is not nearly as friendly to long walks, slow listening, and simply room to breathe. There are parts of her Ghana experience I know she wants to carry with her, however difficult that may prove to be.

Today, I am a grateful woman. I have plenty of food to feed my family, a warm and cozy nest that shields us from the bitter cold, and the resources to plan for Christmas gifts for those I love. I will not take for granted these simple gifts.  And even the Bears embarrassing performance against the Patriots will not ruin this lovely day of nesting!