Starting over...

I got a new Bible. I've had my other Bible for 12 years... It's been kind of strange sitting here tonight "cleaning it out" and seeing what has gathered in it over the past 12 years. Dried flowers from who knows where... newspaper clippings that I have no idea why I saved...notes in the margin like "jan 12 '96 - a really bad day" I guess it's good I can't remember what happened :) There's also one that says "you'll never forget this day - april 11" Guess what? No clue what happened that day either. It was written next to a lamenting Psalm... I wonder if it was worse than Jan 12...

But it's fun to look at all the sermon notes I have and remember all the really good teaching I've been blessed with through the years. It's amazing - all the different color highlights and underlines... makes the pages rather pretty. It's interesting to see what I underlined. It must be really important if it's underlined AND highlighted. My new Bible is going to feel like it's naked with its crisp, new pages and no colors - my second favorite thing about my new Bible is that the words of Jesus are NOT typed in red. I think that's so cool.

So, now I'm trying to figure out, with a new Bible, do you transfer all your notes or do you just start over? I'm torn. I'm never getting rid of my old Bible, so I'll always have my notes and memories (even the ones I can't remember!). I have some really good stuff written in the margins of my old Bible from pastors, seminary professors, friends, and myself. I know I want to transfer some of my stuff - you know, the times I was reading Scripture and God whacked me on the head saying "Open your eyes! See what I'm trying to tell you!" and suddenly I "got it." But what about all the other stuff?? What do you think?

My old Bible is covered in duct tape, and the new one doesn't even have a crease yet. Hopefully it will soon. I keep turning the pages very gently. I need to get over that.

Oh, what's my favorite part of my new Bible? The fact that I do get to fill all those empty margins with the next 12 or so years of my life - the really bad days (that hopefully I'll forget) and the really good ones I'll cherish forever. Years and years of more amazing sermons and Bible studies... and lots of places for many a color of highlighter...