It's about time
Why this day is the best one and joys for 2026!
On New Year’s Eve, my family and I watched the movie About Time, which is a fantastic film if you’ve never seen it! It’s about a young man who learns that the men in his family can travel back in time, and he uses this information in a variety of ways, including falling in love. It is, of course, so cute.
Spoiler alert (but not really a spoiler): at the end of the movie, the protagonist’s father encourages him to use this gift to live every single day twice: once as it happens, and then again from the beginning, making better choices, noticing more beauty, and letting the day be fuller and more joyful. By the end of the film, the protagonist decides he’s just going to live every day the first time as if it were the second time.
I thought about this a lot — especially on New Year’s Day — as I faced a very messy situation trying to board my flight home to DC. I had tried to change the seat on my second segment and, in the process, accidentally voided both of my tickets. I didn’t realize this until the woman scanning tickets told me my reservation wasn’t confirmed. As the minutes to takeoff ticked down, I was in full panic mode: at the desk, on the phone with Delta, talking to the gate agent, and basically begging the ticket scanner to keep the boarding door open.
I was sweating through my shirt and started to come up with potential solutions if I couldn’t get on the plane: Maybe I’ll hop on a United flight. Maybe another Delta flight. Maybe I’ll just go back to the cabin and stay in Tahoe another night. Every solution was spinning through my head.
Then, truly at the last moment, the man at the desk printed a ticket, grabbed it, and ran down the gangway with me to get me into my seat (he was in his mid-70s, so this run was perilous). The fact that I made that plane was a true miracle!!
As I settled in (still sweating), I thought of About Time and thought, If I could live this day over again, I would’ve just not messed with my tickets and enjoyed a much more peaceful last thirty minutes. But then I realized something: if I hadn’t faced that chaos, I never would’ve experienced the kindness and calm of that ticket agent or the ticket scanner, both of whom patiently helped me figure things out. I never would’ve talked to the Delta woman on the phone who was so steady and helpful, even while I was panicking. I never would’ve experienced the gift of being cared for so personally, of being walked (read: run) to my seat, of being so dang grateful that I was on a plane that it seemed like I might not be on just moments before.
AND because I lost both of my tickets, I ended up with a new seat on my second flight where I sat next to a lovely woman, and we spent the entire 90-minute flight talking about Broadway, religion, and life in DC.
In hindsight, I don’t think I would go back to fix the ticket problem. That problem became a gateway to a beautiful day of flying, gratitude, new friends, unexpected kindness, and feeling deeply cared for by God in the midst of my own silliness.
I think many of the things that “go awry” are like this. They give God and other people room to step in and take care of me. The Lord is always there, net at the ready, redirecting my steps and making His presence known. If I never made mistakes or found myself in difficult situations, it might actually be harder to see how personally and tenderly He loves me.
I’ve been thinking a lot about something I’ve heard Fr. Pine say: “We think our real life is elsewhere.” And that’s true for me. I often act like my real life is waiting somewhere down the road, in a place that exists in my imagination. But that’s not true. My real life is right here. It’s with friends who love me and plan fun parties. It’s in a job that stretches me and gives me experiences I never could’ve imagined. It’s even in the moments of stress and frustration because that’s where God meets me.
As we begin a new year, maybe we can pray for the grace to live each day knowing that our real life is here. It is good that we are here. It is good that we are in this season of life, surrounded by these people, carrying these challenges, hopes, and longings. This is the life God has given us — and He joyfully uses everything to make us holy and show us His love.
In Christ,
Jane
What I’m loving lately
The week of catchups
It’s been such a joy catching up with friends after the holidays!! Something is in the air — so much hope, excitement, and readiness for 2026. I love this energy.
Books of 2026 so far
I devoured The Wedding People on my flights home this week — it was phenomenal!! A beautiful read. Currently reading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and every time I pick up her work I’m reminded of just how much I love her and how dang funny she is.
A perfect podcast for “Wonder”
This was a solid episode, and such a good invitation to behold, to be present, and to “wonder” this year.
This song for 2026 <3
This song makes me so happy! After waiting a literal month for it to arrive, my vinyl copy of this album showed up this weekend and it’s on repeat.
Prayer intentions
For peace in our world
For two big work events this week!
For a special intention
I loved this Jane! I heard Chris Stefanik once say that many of us (I) pray to have the wisdom to be where God wants us to be and do what God plans for us to do. He said, know you are exactly where you’re supposed to be, in all the joys and messiness.