Stroke of midnight.

Where was I when 2013 melted into 2014?

I was in church, just as I was in church last year, two years ago and for the past  Zillion years or thereabouts. I have always made an habit of ensuring that when the clock strikes 12 am on the last day of the year, my family and I would be in church. There is nothing as soothing and reassuring as being in church on the last second of the last minute of the last hour of he tlast day of the year. I am one of those people who have preference for a particular area or specific seat in church and if for any reason, I do not get that seat, my "spirit does not flow". So this means I have to make an extra effort  to get to church earlier than most people.

My family, early birds for the  cross over service.

There is no crowd like the crowd of the last day of the year, the church is usually filled to overflowing, there were seats on the streets for people to sit, there were more people standing than those sitting, no matter the number of chairs provided, they are never enough.

There was a festive feeling in the air, everyone was gaily dressed

Me, in my Sunday best (what our people call "bottom box")

and the atmosphere was charged, there seemed to be a general realization that we were there not of our own making, we were there because God granted it that way. We danced like never before, we clapped, we sang at the top of our voices, solemn hymns and gospel songs. Hugs became the new hello, we were eager to exchange greetings, to trade back thumpings, to laugh whole heartedly for the smallest of reasons. The lead chorister, a friend of mine loosened up, she was not her usual shy self, all her songs were favourites, the way she led us was different, it was as if her life depended on it or that she needed to show appreciation for what God had done for her that year. End of year or what we call cross over service is usually not a time for long sermons, it started with thanksgiving, the Pastor echoed the reasons why we should be thankful, reasons that were obvious already. This was followed by alter call, cross over service alter call is like no other, loads of people, mostly youths came  out in their hundreds to give their lives to Christ. Serious  "back to sender prayers" were said. The service ended with thanksgiving, prayer points were used for the countdown into the new year.As soon as the clock struck 12, there was a loud chorus of happy new year accompanied with moving around the church auditorium, hugging friends, family and  even complete strangers, perceived haters and enemies alike and wishing one another a happy new year.
 There were loud bang, bang, bang sounds of fireworks from outside. Because of the fireworks and traffic jam, a journey that would take about 5 minutes from my church to my house took about an hour, but we did not mind, in fact we enjoyed it. Back home, the smell of a new beginning was in the air. It was a new year indeed. We all exchanged another round of "happy new year" and talked into the first day of 2013.