On Christmas morning, after Church, all the family gather at our house to open gifts and have a very lazy and protracted Christmas Lunch. We normally have mince pies, mini brownies, and sweet treats on the table as everyone arrives.
This year, my mom-in-law brought a contribution to this part of the Christmas tradition on the plane all the way from Jo’burg. Fabulously decorated, Christmas-themed cupcakes.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts to protect them during the flight and carry them carefully, the cupcakes didn’t fare so well in transit. Many of them arrived in PE looking quite a bit worse for wear. A few were intact, but most were smooshed, missing icing, and in some cases, the cake was exposed in places. See the photo for reference!
Despite their appearance, we decided to roll with it. The few cupcakes that were still in good condition made their way onto the table, while the others, the so-called “rejects”, were piled high in their unrecognizable state. Upside down, smooshed together, and showing their battle scars, there they sat, waiting to be devoured.
And, people loved them! The “rejects” were eaten up far more quickly than the perfect cakes. Perhaps we felt sorry for them, or perhaps they spoke to the messiness within each of us. We didn’t have to worry about not getting icing everywhere – it was already all over the place. Just dive in and enjoy!
Life is often like those cupcakes. We start with the best intentions. Our vision is beautiful and perfect, and we expect everything to go according to plan. And then, smoosh! Life happens and all our plans end up like squished cupcakes. Things get messy. The neat picture we envisioned starts to unravel, and we find ourselves in the midst of a squashed mess. Do we throw it away? Or do we embrace the mess and make the best of it?
Perhaps we need to just dive in and make the best of the smoosh – it still tastes fabulous, there’s still joy in it. It just looks a little different to our initial plan.
It’s in these moments God’s work becomes most evident. Just as the “reject” cupcakes were still delicious, even in their broken state, so too is life full of hidden beauty despite its imperfections. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Even in the mess, God is at work, taking the broken pieces of our lives and turning them into something meaningful.
As we step into 2025, we do so with hope and anticipation for what God has in store for us. The New Year often comeswith fresh expectations, dreams, and plans, much like those cupcakes we hoped would arrive in perfect condition.
Yet, we all know life doesn’t always go according to our perfect vision. Sometimes, things take unexpected turns, and our plans look nothing like we imagined. But this is where God’s goodness shines brightest. He takes our mess, our disappointments, and our detours, and He makes something beautiful from them. It’s in those moments that we are called to trust His timing, His wisdom, and His faithfulness.
Perhaps, this year, we’re being invited to embrace the unexpected – to find joy even in the journey’s messiness. After all, it’s often the imperfections that bring us closer to one another and to God. The “reject” cupcakes were a reminder that we don’t have to be perfect to be loved, and we don’t have to have everything together to enjoy the sweetness of life. There’s beauty in the brokenness, and often, the messiest moments are the ones that hold the most joy.
As we move through 2025, let’s remember that our lives don’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. Even when things don’t go according to plan, we can rest in the truth that God is at work, making all things new. Philippians 1:6 encourages us, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Even when life feels out of control, we can trust that God’s plans for us are good, and His love never fails.
So, as we dive into this new year, let’s approach it with open hearts, ready to embrace the unexpected. Let’s trust that God is making something beautiful out of every situation, even the ones that feel a little smooshed. He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us, and His love will carry us through every messy, wonderful moment ahead.
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire