Unrecognizable. Today I saw a patient that I had visited this last summer and today, it’s heavy to report I was visiting them at the end of life. They were unrecognizable. The first visit I had with this patient was memorable. Their faith was very vibrant. They spoke of Jesus and even pulled out their phone and played me one of their favorite songs. The song was “Grace Wins,” by Matthew West. Both off key, we sang it along together in a hospital room. It’s only been about six months. Disease and death has come calling. Spending time with the family they told of the patient’s strong faith and witness.

I keep coming back to the word - Unrecognizable… I hope and pray I am unrecognizable regarding my “old self” my “duplicitous self,” my “rotten self.” I don’t know the life sketch of this patient, I only saw a snippet of their story - I saw a person’s whose favorite song says, “GRACE wins every time.”

So, when we are unrecognizable in snippets of our character, our calling, or our Christianity may we remember that grace truly does win every time.

May we be open to the reflection process during the closing of this year. Looking for the things we are to be grateful for, the things we may need to confess or apologize for, and the places where God miraculously answered prayers.

May OUR EYES remain fixed on Jesus, the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of our faith. WE are not doing this alone, THE HOLY SPIRIT will lead us, shape us, and change us. May our hard, ugly, and awful parts become dimmer and dimmer - and may our Divine Determination and Light glow so brightly we are unrecognizable in the new year. God bless each and everyone of us.

Here’s a link to the song - an oldy, but goody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a1WKcB7umU