The Perfect Life

Toni M. Babcock

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV.

Winter isn’t supposed to be weird for Minnesotans. 

It’s supposed to be on time — as familiar as an old boot kicking up cold by late October and slicing through the night like a sharp pair of skates by January 1. 

The weird thing is - the past few months haven’t been like that in most of Minnesota. 

Snow’s been downright stingy, while forecasters keep wondering what's going on. 

At this writing, some of our rivers and lakes aren’t even fully frozen. 

It all feels a little strange. 

Maybe old man winter decided to kick off his boots and take a siesta.

In spite of the weather, my personal ‘winter’ has arrived in full form. 

I can feel it in my bones a little sharper. 

I can see it in the mirror as I observe an aging face wishing it was twenty years younger. 

I’m more careful walking down my wooden steps in slippery socks these days, and senior savvy about avoiding internet scams on my phone and computer. 

How in the world did I ever get this old?

It might be neat to skip old age like an out-of-whack winter and re-wind back to spring. 

Imagine all the relief we’d feel while applying all the hard lessons we already learned! 

Think of all the mistakes we’d be able to avoid. 

But here’s the thing. 

We wouldn’t have the privilege of walking by faith and trusting God who steps into our lives through Jesus. 

If you and I could live our lives all over again perfectly, we might not even think we needed Him.

I’ll take His perfect life over mine any day. 

That’s what receiving Christ and living through His power is all about.

Toni is author of Reflections from the Heart in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens. Contact