There is a saying in German politics: "After the election is before the election."

Once an election has taken place, politicians are already planning for the next election. In our case we could say: "After the feast is before the feast."

There have been many positive comments about this year’s Feast of Tabernacles as a harmonious, joyful feast. That is not only the case concerning the Schluchsee feast site, but elsewhere as well.

Of course, there are always some details in the organization and execution of the feast that can be improved for next year. But overall this year’s feast was a good one!

Our next festival season will be in April 2012, and the next Feast of Tabernacles in October 2012.

Time doesn’t stand still, and neither should our Christian growth. After the Feast of Tabernacles is a good time for a personal inventory of our spiritual state. Utilizing the positive momentum from the feast, how do we want to proceed in our relationship with God in the coming months?

What can we improve in our personal Bible study or our prayer life? Are there aspects of interpersonal relations that are a weakness for us? Something that we should want to improve?

The overall goal of our life is to be in God’s kingdom. Along the way there are many subordinate goals that we pass by on our personal walk with God.

Let’s resolve to make use of the time until the next feast to strengthen our relationship with God.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!