.daviddouglasgoode.

Well 2006 has come and gone. I remember where I was at the turn of last year. I was in thailand, in the middle of a cow paddock. It was most uneventful. I celebrated the new year with the cows, looking up to the sky, thanking God for his grace for another year. When you think about 2006 what are you going to remember? When your kids are bouncing on your lap, asking about last year, wondering what you did with your time in the year of 06, what are you going to tell them?
I think reflection is really important, in everybodys life. Regular reflection, like every week, or every day after work. But what about the bigger picture? What about every year?

The last two years ive been away from home for new years. Apart from being on the other side of the world, the last two years ive done one thing very differently. That is, ive given myself time, by myself, to journal, and to think about the year that’s just passed, and wonder upon the new year, and what will become of it.
We all talk about new years resolutions and things we want to do differently, but how many of us actually give it enough thought for it to be real, for it to actually happen.

If you don’t do it, if you spend the young days of the new year watching episode after episode of your favourite TV show, then I challenge you to give it a shot, you still have time. Sit down, go to a park, be alone, and wonder what you want to change. Write stuff down, then revisit it every month so you don’t forget about it. And if for some queer reason you think God doesn’t dig it, he does, trust me. Ring me up, and we will discuss it over a nice hot tea.
So what was it for me in 2006. When I think about 2006, what do I think about. Well lets see.

2006 was the year of Jordan. It was the year of the black man. Jordan was like my girlfriend. Like don’t get me wrong, I say that cause I probably would have seen him more than most men see their wives. It was cool cause we didn’t really know each other that well. Why did we see each other so much? Well we both agreed to the crazy idea that we would work for my sister for a year. So that meant that 2006 was also the year of the youth internship. It was the year of 6:15 youth ministry classes at Harvest in North Dandenong. It was the year of amazingly captivating bible college lectureres. It was the year of doing petty little jobs for my sister and her associates. It was the year of living and breathing our youth ministry, nexus youth. It was the year of freedom. 2006 was my first year out of school. 2006 was the year that I was 18. So that also means that it was the year of the P-plates, the car, the year of casting the first vote and so on.
What do I think of when I think of 2006?
Music?

There would have be a few albums slash artists slash songs that stand out for me for 2006. Music can define so much, and this was the music that defined 2006.
John legend would be a huge standout for 2006. John legend you say? But dave, you’re white. Well yes I am, but jordan isnt. Being in the same office meant a merge of music. And considering he didn’t really like screamo, I let him choose the playist for each day that we graced together. John legend was a highly played artist for the office we shared. Justin Timberlakes new album future love sounds or watever it is, was deflnitely another album played a lot. Other artists include Sean Paul, Missy Elliot, Kayne West, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, Muse… the list goes on.
What else?
There were some key albums that I bought that will remind me a lot of 2006. Jacks Mannequin, everything in transit, will be an album for 2006, bloc partys silent alarm will remind me too. The most played albums for 06 would be underoaths define the great line, saosins debut, saosin. Lovedrugs pretend your alive, Jimmy Eat Worlds Futures, Jonezettas popularity, Panic! At the Disco’s Fevor, Death Cabs Transantlanticism and Plans, Emerys Question and United’s United we stand.
What Else happened last year? Going to coomoora every Thursday was fun. Taste of chaos, meeting underoath happened last year. Australia making the world cup was last year. The unrest in lebanon was last year. Getting my ‘beat magazine’ job was last year. Getting up at 3:30 in the morning every Wednesday was last year. Last year was the year of myspace. Last year was the year of ranked friends. Pre 2006, friends were never ranked. what a crazy thought.

Lots of things happened last year, some things I wish never happened, and some things im glad did. Whatever happened in 2006, whether good or bad, its now over, and 2007 is here to stay. Lets make this year count. Lets not let it be another page in our book of disappointments. This year is waiting for you.
Waiting for you to do something with it.
So, whats it gonna be?