For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

2 Peter 1:5 – 7

This is the last day of 2018.  I can not begin to cite the new realities, or old ones rediscovered, in this year, now coming to a close.  I faced new personal challenges, health issues and other matters.  I released myself from serving on committees, a feature of my life all these years.  After two accidents I have given up driving.  I have done little travel outside of the local running, a change that I knew was coming.  It did not seem as difficult as I had at first imagined.  My personal health is one thing after another, especially a deterioration of what my blood should be doing.  As we humans grow older, we do find ourselves in new contexts, certainly.

Enough of that.  What really matters is what I am learning about walking with Jesus, looking to Him to take me by the hand.  Peter notes them one after another.  Faith.  Goodness.  Knowledge.  Self-control.  Perseverance.   Godliness.  Mutual affection.  And, to bind it all together, love.

I keep thinking I have learned to walk with Jesus.  Seeing this list, I bow my head and submit myself, once again, to the loving care of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  I need his Holy Spirit to infill me and instruct me in the way of faith.