"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God..."

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. he came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, 'This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ahs surpassed me becasue he was before me.' ' From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus chrsit. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." (John 1:1-18)

Somehow, as the beginning of the semester is drawing near, and, as a new and challenging year is beginning, it is good for me to be reminded of John 1. It sets my compass to the right place, it reminds me of who I am and what is true. It reminds me of Jesus's great humility to come to earth and live amongst us, but also of his majesty. He was with God in the beginning! He in fact is God. And, it says here, that nothing was made that didn't come into existence through him. That means a lot! That means that not a detail goes without his notice. That means that He does in fact have power over nature, power over my life, power over the details of my life in Madrid, Spain, power over even the things that seem far out of my control. That is very good news!!!

I need to be reminded that the rock I am clinging to will in fact hold me, that it's not just a nice thing I tell myself, but it is a firm and reliable foundation. And this Word, this Light, this Jesus, is the one who gives LIFE. That is why I'm here. That is why I have given everything to follow him. Oh, that I may be reminded of these truths every moment of every day, so that I would have confidence to encounter the winds and waves of life.