The Countdown Continues

This weekend at church a very little phrase really stuck with me and has prompted me to deluge into cyberspace once more. Before I get too far from my stated title, only 4 more days until we hop on that plane that takes us back to the lately not-so-frigid north. As the days number I find it increasingly difficult to concentrate on silly things like . . work. I long for my off hours when I can spend it daydreaming of 2 weeks of family, friends and relaxation. But back to my point, since I have been so lost in my focus on home, the idea of something coming from nothing has been resonating with me since Saturday evening.
This weeks message was about Mary the mother of Jesus and her response to the call of the Lord to bear the Messiah. All that was great but I really latched on to the idea of with Mary, God created something from nothing within her womb. Where she had never been with a man, God created a child. Likewise, with Elizabeth her cousin, where there had been barrenness God created fertility. And in the Jewish mind, there would be an instant connection with a woman who could not have children receiving a promise from God to bear a child (Sarah & Abraham) and the promise that her child held for the world (see Gen. 26:1-5).
The question that held on was where are other places in my life that there is barrenness that need life? Who are the people I relate to that the relationship needs life? In looking forward to being at home with family and friends, I can see of people in my family that are in need of life. At the least, my relationship with them should be life bringing and encouraging rather than barren and wasteful. Also, as the new year is a time that many make resolutions and start anew, where are the places in my life where life needs to overtake death, what are the things that need to die inside of me so that new life can take hold and flourish.