In the midst of all the celebration and hoopla this New Year's Day, I wonder how many of us are truly grateful to even be alive today? Tragically, the Iranian pictured here never made it into 2004 -- a victim of the recent earthquake there, along with SO many others.

I thought about posting the "expected" blog piece today. You know, a happily crafted paragraph, wishing everyone a Happy New Year along with a colorful, inspiringly celebrative photo. But I just couldn't. Not after seeing this photo. It made me grieve. It made me pray.

And so... I'm grateful to be even be living today. Grateful for my wife and kids. Grateful to still have breath and strength and time to follow Christ, or at least try to. And if you're reading this, then I'm also grateful that you're still living too.