Happy New Year! I can't believe it's 2010. Each year I struggle with looking back at the previous year too long, but this year I plan to put my face to the front and only look back if I intend to go that way.

Growing up, we always went to parties for New Year's Eve (NYE) and that's what I have almost always done as an adult. This year I decided to go to my church's Watch Night service and I am so glad that I finally gave it a try.  Last week Serenity 23 mentioned that however you were feeling and whatever you were thinking about on NYE is most likely how your year will go.  Thinking back on the last 2 NYE, I spent the nights looking for the right party and vibe, and each year I felt like I was searching for something.  This year I was determined to be thinking about all the good things that could possibly happen this year and not worried about what happened last year.  I had planned to go to church by myself, but at the last minute Whatshisface decided that he would join me. Ironically his father attends the same church and he has been to the Watch Night service there before.  I grew up going to white churches that had very little in way of praise and worship, so I had NO idea of what to expect on my first Watch Night. When we got there they were singing and it seemed like a normal Sunday Morning. Whatshisface's father came up to us during the service and when we were introduced, I realized that I see him almost EVERY week because he is a greeter at the first door of the church! I had seen a picture of him before, but I never put two and two together.

After a good amount of praise and worship, the pastor preached a short but powerful sermon about leaving things behind. He likened the new year to being told at the airport that your bag is too heavy and that you will have to search through it for things to take out.  At that moment, I think everyone started thinking about what is absolutely necessary in their life and what can they leave behind in 2009. He also talked about how the things you DON'T leave behind will pull you down and used the death of Aaliyah as an example of how not leaving stuff behind can drag you down and kill you. At the conclusion of the sermon he invited anyone who wanted to come to the alter for prayer and throngs of people began to leave their seats. Now I attend a big church. The main sanctuary can seat 10,000 and there were over 7,000 there for Watch Night. Whatshisface asked if I wanted to go to the alter and I said no initially because I wasn't sure WHY everyone was going to the alter. When I realized that people were going down there to kneel and pray, I told him that I wanted to go down there. We were sitting pretty far in the back and by the time we got to the front, the alter was packed and people were kneeling in the aisles and in their seats. We decided to just kneel in the aisle and hold hands while the pastor prayed.  I have never prayed in a new year, but I think I may do this every year from now on. It just felt right...

After church we to a party that was interesting, but that wasn't the highlight of my night. I officially have a new NYE tradition.