The celebrations for a new year ticking over have been had and I find myself reflecting on the previous twelve months and all that it contained for us as a nation, as a family and for me, individually. Some of the events have been worthy of commemorating while other experiences are things we would rather not have had to face.

The biggest difference happened for me when I was asked to change appointments from leading a church to becoming a Prison Chaplain. I have loved the opportunities this new role gives me where I have been stretched and challenged and rewarded all at once. I wrote about it earlier this year in a post entitled “Being a Prison Chaplain”. I am looking forward to another year in this role and to see what else God would like to teach me.

Mid year we travelled to Wollongong, New South Wales, for The Salvation Army’s Netball and Basketball Carnival to watch and support the South Australian teams, especially Joshua’s under 18’s team. They were victorious in winning the competition this year, vindicating their Grand Final loss of last year and an important lesson of sportsmanship and grace was learned by me on that occasion. I wrote about it in the post “White Line Fever” and you might like to check it out if you missed it.

My running has had to take a bit of a backseat in the past few months due to an injury I kept ignoring and hoped would fix itself. Despite being told to ‘rest’ and ‘recover’ I believed I knew my body better and was worried that if I stopped running I would not be able to start back up again. This has ultimately led to a much longer enforced ‘rest’ time where I am only now seeing improvements from. Over the years I have written about needing to learn lessons in injury and the recovery time required. One day I may learn!!

In October David and I headed overseas to embark upon a study tour, retracing the steps of Saint Paul and some of the apostles. Prior to that tour starting we spent 4 nights in Cairo and then 4 nights in Santorini. Two amazing but starkly contrasting places before we headed to Greece and Türkiye for the study tour. I have yet to write about these experiences because I am still processing all that was learned on that journey, and it feels like hard work so I have been avoiding it!

A few short weeks ago we were stunned to watch the news when the account of a mass shooting, targeting the Jewish community occurred on our shores. I can make no sense of it and I am aware that I need to take the time to write and reflect, but I just can’t. I can’t fathom the hatred that leads people to these actions and how I can find God and hope in it. Again, it’s fear of doing the work required to sit in that discomfort and ask God to reveal his lessons for me that is holding me back, and I am ashamed to admit this fact.

Each year I try to choose a word that is my focal point. In 2025 my word was ‘resilience’ … especially focussing on the elasticity that can spring me forward when my resources have been stretched and pulled to the point of almost breaking.

Have I been resilient? Have I demonstrated the ability to continue moving forward even through setbacks or challenges? Observing my incapacity to embrace the helpful therapy for me that is creative writing I am wondering if I have dropped the ball a little during these last few months? It seems that being deliberate in reflection increases my capacity to move forward. But it is hard work.

I believe that God is asking for me to embrace the word ‘discipline’ for 2026. I already do not like the sound of it, but I know in my heart it is what my soul requires this coming year. Choosing to do something now, even when it feels hard for ‘present Belinda’ is what brings reward to ‘future Belinda’. I know this to be true (damn it) and so this is the word I commit to as my focus for the next twelve months.

There are a number of verses about self-discipline in the Bible but this one from Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 11 spoke to my heart today. It reads: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Discipline in reflection, in healthy choices, in life balance, in spiritual growth, in relationships … even when it feels hard … ESPECIALLY when it feels hard. Ultimately it will bring peace. Peace of heart, mind and soul. This is the choice I am making, and I am more than happy for you to help hold me accountable.

I pray that as you reflect on your year you are able to clearly see where God has been blessing you and helping you learn valuable lessons. I pray that the year to come will be all that and more.

Be blessed.