So I almost got killed on New Year's Eve...

[NathanATX]

(from my blog, http://blog.myspace.com/nathanatx )

Ok, I'm being dramatic, but it WAS a close call.

The evening's events unfolded like this. First, I went to my church's country & western themed New Year's Eve party. That was a lot of fun, they had a pretty good band, plenty of food & "beverages," and a lot of my friends were there.

I waited until the ball dropped and then left to go to another party. The party was at this couple's house out by the lake, two very sweet guys. Their house was great, they had a heated pool & hot tub... the hot tub was in a little grotto... very cool. So I got to hang out with my friends and meet several really great new people.

After a little while, I headed back into town. There was a light mist coming down. Not enough moisture to do any good, but just enough to make the roads slippery.

If you've been to Austin and have been out to Lake Travis, you most likely were on 2222 at some point. It's a curvy, hilly road with lots of steep cliffs. It's beautiful in the daytime, but dangerous in the rain... something I wasn't ever too concerned about, until last night. I was coming uphill around a bend and this big white cadillac was coming downhill. All of a sudden this car jerks and was coming downhill sideways, straight at me! It was all instantaneous. I snapped my SUV out of the way just in the nick of time. The offending car corrected itself and went on it's way and I continued home.

During Friday night's Fuel meeting, the young adult ministry that I lead, my lesson was entitled "Creating Your New Year" and centered on the idea that God is all about new beginnings. His mercy for us is unending, his love for us doesn't have a limit.

Sometimes we have very clear moments when we realize we've been given a chance at a new beginning. Maybe we avoided a bad car wreck. Maybe we survived a surgery or sickness. But I would suggest that most of the time we're not aware of that sense of being given a fresh start. Maybe we're too focused on our busy-ness and the stress of life. Maybe we've made so many mistakes that we don't feel worthy of a chance to live with a clean slate. Most of us, though probably just aren't giving ourselves a chance to think about it... to become present to and grateful for the newness and freshness of each moment of our lives.

I believe that God's mercy and love for us isn't just new every morning, like the Bible says, but that it's new for us every moment... always. The Bible says that nothing could separate us from God's love. Not our busy-ness. Not our feeling unworthy. Not even the hurtful and unloving things we say and do.

When we start to "get" God's heart for us, all kinds of miracles are possible in our lives. When we begin to see ourselves in the same light & love that God sees us, we blossom. We can begin to create our lives with freedom and creativity, not limited by doubt, stress or fear. Let 2006 be your year for miracles. Open your heart & mind to a continual awareness of God's love for you.

Listen to this month's meditation from http://www.unityonline.org/pray_guidedmeditations.htm.

[pnggrad79]

Nate,
Thank God you are ok. I have been to Austin several times and out to Lake Travis, and it is very tough terrain in the daylight much less during rain or fog.
Side note-my grandparents used to live in Jollyville. My uncle graduated from Round Rock High School way back in like 1974. I grew up visiting her in the summer time and grew to love that place. Of course where she lived is now grown up with a subdivision, but I remember quiet summer evenings when she let me sleep out on the porch and the occasional car sound I heard, but mostly just peaceful and quiet and beautiful. Anyway, pardon my trip down memory lane. I am glad you are ok. Hope it didn't shake you up too bad.

[NathanATX]

Yeah, I'm fine. I like to keep my angels in good shape.

Austin is so beautiful, how did you manage to not settle down here?

[pnggrad79]

Nate,
Believe me I would love to someday. Maybe I will get to in the future. I have heard though that it is really expensive to live there and I can't afford a whole lot. Know of anything affordable, not in the half million or million dollar range? For instance, my grandmother's house when my grandfather built it cost him 25,000, it is now worth over 800,000. I can't even come close to that. I am closer to the 25,000 range, which now is close to poverty level if you know what I mean. Seriously, I would jump at the chance to move to the Austin area, if I could afford it. BTW, I have some friends in Austin that I met at University Baptist Church annual Gay and Lesbian Retreat last October (2004) and they live close to UT. Their house is ok, but not worth what they are paying for it. If you know of anything or have any insights I would be glad to hear it.

[Zerbie]

We were just in Austin last week (visiting family, incidentally, we have a relative in Round Rock High School right now, small world huh?) - anyway, I'm pret-t-ty sure we saw some signs advertizing new homes in the low $200s, in or around Austin. In fact, I believe just a few minutes east along the 290 we saw billboard ads for new homes UNDER $200 - and it looks like they are building a new freeway from that area to reach into the heart of Austin. So I think there ARE some opportunities for home purchase around Austin. And our relative bought her first home in Round Rock in summer of 2004 for something in the $100s. It's a 2 bedroom house, nice large living room and kitchen, garage, and a decent sized yard with patio.

Fwiw, at least prices in TX aren't as awful as they are in so many other areas. We live in the Phoenix valley. We bought our home at christmas of 2004 for $225, which was considered a lot for the neighborhood and size of the house - well now, a year later, nothing in the neighborhood sells for less than that, and our house value has gone up to almost $300. Prices are really swelling in Phoenix, as they are in several other places as well. In Texas, there is still undeveloped space, so I think prices may stay relatively a little lower until it fills in. Which, hopefully won't be for a while.