2008. Are you serious? Wait a minute, per my seamless life-plan of 1998, I should be spending today cruising the Malibu foothills on my new hover board, preparing for my upcoming game against the 76ers at Staples Center on Friday. I mean, averaging twenty-seven points per game my junior year in High School should have automatically translated to at least twenty points per game in the NBA, right? It made sense ten years ago. That was, until, God & I had the following exchange:

God: Jason, my arrogant son, in whom I am occasionally pleased…
Jason: … Hold on God, if this is about Church last Sunday, I was really tired and the –
God: — Silence. This is about your basketball career.
Jason: Oh, yes, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Before I enter the draft, should I go to UCLA or Michigan State? I mean, both schools have –
God: — Silence. You will do no such thing, because you will not grow another inch. You shall remain 3’6″ for all of your days on earth.
Jason: But God!! … Will I also have stubby arms and legs??
God: Silence. I have spoken. Now flee from my presence! … And stop listening to 2Pac, you’re white.

All jokes aside, its remarkable how quickly the sun can set on a year of life. 365 days ago, my life was completely different. I was hanging out with different people, living in a different place and had a distinctly different perspective on what the future had hidden around the corner. It’s scary how quickly time can progress and leave so many of life’s greatest moments and supreme lessons left in its wake. I’ve found that life is about perspective, and if we allow it too, time will become our greatest teacher.

I find it ironic that most people spend their new years doing the same thing they’ve been doing all year… partying.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute, I’ve got an idea guys! Since we’re starting a new era of our lives and closing an old one, let’s kick it off by getting trashed with a bunch of complete strangers in a really crowded room. If we’re lucky, we’ll be sick all day tomorrow and probably won’t even remember it!”

As a society, are we really that miserable with ourselves? Is our idea of a celebration always coupled with altering who we are to the people around us? In so many ways, it makes me sad. Our opportunities to really experience the great endowment of life that God has given us are so often drown away in crowded bars, strangers’ beds and empty bottles. So many lives expire everyday without having ever really been alive.

Before James’ left to pursue his life in Mexico, he reminded me of a quote by C.S. Lewis:

“I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not a substitute for joy.”

As we pursue what lies ahead in 2008, I hope that each of our expeditions leave behind substitute pleasures and seek after the real joy we’re all capable of living in. … And in the spirit of kicking off yet another year of our lives, let’s take a look back at just a few of my greatest memories of 2007.

… And since you’ve read this far and are obviously as bored and I am, you might as well go ahead and leave a comment with your best memory of 2007.

Happy New Year!

- 1/01/07: Grown adults frantically playing twister and running charades, Megan’s cut-off shirt and endless bottles of wine-less wine… Still, the best new years party ever

- The Team Jesus experiment, bad movie night at Mike & Shanna’s and countless hours of great memories with good friends.

- The 9 miles from 24 hours Fitness to our house that Rickey & I decided to run on New Years day in an attempt to “Kick off ’07 the right way!” Great idea, let me tell ya’.

- The GCS Reunion party, my multiple knock-out nerf basketball championships, Paul Portell’s fabulous dancing skills, and Jenny’s coveted BK Crown signed by yours truly J

- Another year of NBA League Pass, Basketball Wars at Sprint & the Devin Alexander cooking show that inspired James and I to turn on the light in the kitchen.