It’s the 11th Day of Christmas, and also the Feast of dropping off your youngest at the airport so she can return to college and take virtual classes in her dorm room and try not to find herself in a group of more than five people thereby earning a penalty. Ugh. It’s not a feast

on the traditional church calendar, but it’s on mine. And if you sense sadness coupled with frustration there, you’re sensing about right. But contrary to what some believe, that’s living "the abundant life" that Jesus promised—experiencing the full spectrum of your life from the

beautiful to the terrible to the sad and frustrated to the hilarious and confused. It doesn't mean you've lost faith, not by a long shot. But it also doesn't mean you're constantly singing "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before," because some days aren't. Some days

are sad and frustrating. I do confess I've no idea what a huge green decorative Xmas ball has to do with this, but it was the last thing I saw as I left the airport wrapped up in my one wild and precious and sad and frustratingly abundant life. And we press on.