Wow, a new year… 2007 is already here!

I think it’s an appropriate time to come up with a prayer request list of what I’d really hope for every member for this new year:

—I pray for good health for each member this year…that you might continue to have the physical giftings that allow you to enjoy the fellowship, vibrant exercise, and fellowship of a good workout amongst your fellow karateka.

—I pray that you might overcome the inevitable frustrations, interruptions, and distractions that come in life, to be able to invest a portion of your week to learning and sharing the way/path of karate-do with others.

—I pray that we never take for granted, the blessings and opportunity of having such a wonderful place in which to conduct the ministry sessions, as well as the nice group of folks who have been called to our group.

—I pray that each of us might have the discernment and patience to learn the unique lessons of life, or universal principles that can be gleaned from meaningful practice.

—I pray that each of you approach the practice of karate-do in a balanced way: 1) that you seek self-improvement through all of the different levels of the art concurrently (physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and in your relationship with others) and 2) that along with investing time/effort in karate, that you not forget to invest in the Lord, your church and community, family, career, health, and knowledge.

—I pray that each of you (sempais and kohais alike) come to see our ministry as truly belonging to…each of you…under His direction, both as individuals, and corporately, as a ministry.

—Most importantly, I pray a wonderful year in 2007 for everyone, where challenges are met with open eyes and successfully overcome. Where obstacles, big and small, are viewed from a broader, mature perspective and our daily actions and responses are guided by a greater vision of what could be. I pray that when we inevitably reach this part of the spiral ring a year from now, we might each look back in satisfaction at a year well-spent.

(Spiral ring? Spiral ring? What’s he talking about? I know that I’m in the minority in how I visualize each year as it goes by. In talking with people about what they envision; many don’t picture anything at all while others see a linear calendar. Personally, I see a spiral ring, of calendar months, which, while it goes forward from left to right (past to future, in my imagination), is kinda tight, so the new year is right next to the previous and the succeeding new year, one spiral trip apart (a year’s trip) but if one could just jump the gap, so close to the other January 1’s.)

Hmmm… spiral ring… maybe next note, we’ll discuss torque in striking/blocking techniques and spiraling when executing throws or during pivoting…

Anyways, have great, exciting year in 2007, and we’ll see how things went, when we get back to that same area of the spiral ring, next Jan 1… 2008.