One year ago I chose the word "Jubilee" to give shape to my experiences for 2016. I wanted to be more conscious of issues related to justice and to celebrate things worthy of jubilation. Looking back on 2016, the following items connect to the theme of Jubilee:
- In 2016 I celebrated with three loved ones as they graduated from one level of schooling to another. Two earned their high school diplomas, and one her Grade 8 diploma.
- Jubilee was experienced through music. In 2016 I had the opportunity to experience the 40th anniversary concert for the Ontario Christian Highschool Choir Festival in the spring and a rousing orchestral and choral rendition of Handel's Messiah just before Christmas.
- Musical theatre was also a cause for jubilation. Each of the five live plays I was privileged to experience combined story telling with song: The Pirates of Penzance; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Our Town; Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol; and Christmas in Reverse.
- I learned more about global justice initiatives through reading The Locust Effect by Gary Hausen and Clay Water Brick by Jessica Jackley. My husband and I were able to support new charities that are focused on bringing justice to the marginalized.
- The schools I am affiliated with began celebrating milestones in 2016: the high school marked 40 years of God's faithfulness and the elementary school is commemorating 50 years, a true jubilee.
- My father had successful surgery to improve his mobility and reduce back and neck pain. My mother had a cataract removed and can see more clearly. The support both my parents received from the medical community and their church family has also been cause for jubilee.
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