Happy New Year 2024
Another New Year is here and we can praise God we are still alive to celebrate it.
While many people will reflect back, many more will look forward–dreaming dreams and planting hopes. And we can be praying for wisdom and strength and divine guidance for what lies ahead–seizing it as an opportunity for a fresh start. Expecting wonderful surprises.
At the beginning of a new year, I spend some time thanking God for those folks who have influenced me, helped me, or encouraged me. I have a lot of people to thank God for in the year that just passed—doctors, nurses and technicians who ministered to me. Add to that those who drove me to clinics and those who faithfully prayed for me and sent cards and texts encouraging me—friends, pastors, even strangers. What a blessing!
As for those who have influenced me, I reread saved letters and cards and even reread books written by authors I knew personally.
One who was my writing instructor years ago, Arthur Gordon, in “Return to Wonder” encourages us to look back with gratitude and challenges us to look for and treasure even the unexpected.
“Life is such a mysterious and complicated journey,” he writes. “I believe the things you remember longest are often the sudden, unexpected, surprising little happenings that jolt you for half a second, out of the rut you are in, or perhaps even out of the self you normally are…In a way I think the more commonplace the happening the better. Then you have to work a bit to see the miraculous and let it come through. Perhaps what you have to do is add astonishment to ordinary cause-and-effect.” 2
For encouragement, I like to reread some of Jamie Buckingham’s books and personal letters he wrote me. He was one of my early writing mentors and has now been in heaven slightly more than three decades—after writing more than 40 books before he turned 60. I just finished rereading for the umpteenth time, The Nazarene. Here is one of my favorite passages written to those who call Jesus Lord.
“You may not think your little field is very important. But God has set you in your field as a watchman. Each one of us has a sphere of influence. Most of us don’t realize it, but our influence is much larger than we can ever imagine– and will continue on for generations to come, be it good or evil. It’s a wonderful responsibility– frightening at times–but wonderful. Always remember, though, you’re never in your watchtower alone. Jesus is ever with you, and his Spirit will whisper just the things you need to say and do. Keep watch over your field, your vineyard, your family, your church, your health, your money, your faith –all the things you’re responsible for. You are the tenant manager. But never forget who owns the land.”
I like this verse from the poem “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Prayer: Thank You, Lord for the blessing of living to usher in this new year. Bless those whose lives have touched us for many wonderful reasons. May we be faithful followers of our Savior Jesus Christ and may our lives –our footprints—bring joy and encouragement to others.Amen.
Scripture:
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do]
From this time forth and forever. (Psalm 121:8 AMP)
Footnotes:
- Arthur Gordon, Return to Wonder-Recapture a Childlike Fascination with Daily Life, A Guideposts book. Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN. copyright, 1996, pp. 67, 94.
- Jamie Buckingham, The Nazarene:Intimate Insights Into The Savior’s Life. Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, Mich., copyright 1991, p 89.
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