Well it is the beginning of 2011, the first year of the second decade in this millennium. So Happy New Year! I decided to make no “resolutions” this year but rather to make goals. Among those is to post a blog once a week. This, as ever, is a work in progress and there is no telling what might show up, from poetry, thoughts on Life and God to academic pros. Who knows what else? I figured that I would waste little time getting the first of, hopefully, at least 52 posts in this year.
The New Year always seems to bring on a more reflective and introspective atmosphere. It is a time when many look over the last twelve months and evaluate progress, changes, and often mistakes. Many have lost someone close to them, while others have perhaps welcomed someone new into the world. For my part 2010 was truly a dynamic year. Usually I am very happy to welcome a new year with all its potential and promise, but this year I am happy to see 2010 go. Will 2011 be better I wonder? As I have pondered for myself the many events of the last year and gazed into the possible tomorrows a small voice whispers in my ear. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” How profound! These few words at the end of Matthew Chapter Six are full of wisdom.
What is central to this verse is the idea of being present. So often we are either looking regretfully, in one way or another, to the past. Perhaps a mistake was made or an undesired change took place. So we look back and wish we could change things, write wrongs, take back harsh words, and step up where we didn’t and so on. On the other hand we look toward the future with anticipation or fear or perhaps both. On the one hand we look for better days. We say when I achieve or get such-and-such then I will be happy. The future is largely unknown, and so we often fear it as well. Will my job last? Will my finances remain in good shape? And the list goes on. They saying goes that eighty to ninety percent of the stuff we worry about never happens. But we have to do something right? All the time and energy we spend worrying over things causes great anxiety and distress. But in the middle of this tempest the savior softy speaks. “Why do you worry?”
The truth is that we serve a sovereign God who is defined by His goodness and love. He desires the best for His children. Yet often times this “best” does not seem good to us. These are places where our wills and desires rub up against the Will of our Creator. Why? We don’t trust him. When things start to go a direction that we don’t like we question his methods and perhaps his motives or maybe both. Wisdom and experience, however, teach us that He is indeed good and loving. All the bad ends I have experiences have led to better beginnings. And, as a wise man I know says, God has always blessed me, what reason do I have to believe He will not continue to do so. It takes strong will sometime not to despair and to rest in the loving arms of the Father. But it is a safe and goodly place. And we must hold on to the promise of God’s love and goodness with relentless tenacity whatever may come our way.
Times can be hard. That is indeed true. Remember God is for you! He desires good things for you, the best things even if we cannot understand how. So when the times are good, give thanks, and be present. For every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. And in those valleys that we are sure to wander in remember those good times when all was well. Pray for strength, courage and greater faith in God’s love. For these times will pass and you will look back and perhaps see the hand of God guiding you lovingly to green pastures and still waters.
Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be you name.
Joy and peace be with you in all your seasons.
Happy New Year
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