Last night we had our Elders and spouses to our house for our annual Christmas gathering. 22 people for dinner!

It was an amazing evening. Each year as we gather we review the highlights of where we’ve watched God working throughout the past year. We talk about where we anticipate God leading us in the coming year. And, we each respond to three questions:

1. What was your deepest experience of joy this past year?

2. What was your biggest challenge this past year?

3. What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?

It always amazes me at the authentic depth to which people are willing to respond to these three simple questions. As we close out this year I’ll use this formula in several gatherings. If you’re having a Christmas party or simply on your own, I would encourage you to take time to reflect with others about your responses.