Another Year

It's rapidly approaching that time when everyone is reflecting on the year. There have surely been many newsworthy events that have transpired over the past twelve months. The inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States, North Korea's failed satellite launch and subsequent second nuclear test, former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's suicide, outbreak of H1N1 virus around the world, Iranian presidential election and its subsequent pro-reformist demonstrations that have continued, death of Michael Jackson, riots in Xinjiang between Han Chinese and Uyghurs, Roxana Saberi's detention and release by Iran, Laura Ling and Euna Lee's detention and release by North Korea, coup d'etat in Honduras, typhoons ravage Taiwan and Southeast Asia, the emergence of the G-20, the 2016 Summer Olympics to Brazil, President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and its subsequent controversies, escalation of War on Terror in Afghanistan, healthcare reform in the United States, and so on.

On a personal note, the year has flown by. I can't believe another year has come and gone, and I don't even know where it went. Quantitative analysis, national security and WMD proliferation, insurgency and counterinsurgency, nuclear North Korea, intelligence and foreign policy, and political risk analysis. Internships at the Hudson Institute and the Korea Economic Institute in the summer and fall. Waiting for security clearance for internship next semester. Paul and Gina in February, Moses and Julie and Dyon and Shlim in May, Mike and Liz and Dave and Anita in June, and Yohan and Grace in October. Missed out on P.Jimmy and Grace in June and Dave and Jihye in October. My brother's graduation from UCLA in June. Two trips to Ann Arbor in May, and two trips to SoCal in June. New church plant in DC. Start of job searches and the preparation for the beginning of the end of my formal education forever. And the list goes on and on.

It has been a year of many ups and downs, but like all good things, it must come to an end. I can't wait for the ball to drop in Times Square and usher in a new year, a year that will bring new blessings and new challenges. But before then, I wish to reflect some more, especially on a spiritual level. I want Psalm 42:1 to be my prayer throughout next year, to long for God in a deeper and more meaningful way.

One Baby

It ain't about the presents, the Christmas trees, and the mistletoes.
It sure ain't about Santa Claus and his team of reindeers.
It most definitely isn't about the shopping madness online or in the malls.
It ain't about the carols, the jingle bells, or even the hymns of old.
It ain't even about attending midnight mass or any religious service.
It ain't all this and much more.

Everything boils down to just one thing.
It is the one thing that has given hope to a bleak and cold world.
That one thing was a he, and he came from humble origins, origins from ancient of days.
Love came down, and it has changed everything.

do not be afraid. I bring good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.