“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”
― Brad Paisley —
It’s a new year…so what?
January 1 is really no different than any other day of the year. The sun rises and sets as the earth completes another 24-hour rotation along its 365(ish) day journey around the sun. The moon follows its predictable pattern moving across the night sky and the law of nature continue to function normally.
We wake up.
We do go to sleep.
We do stuff in between waking up and going to sleep.
It’s just another day, right?
Yes, in the grand scheme of the universe, January 1st on the planet earth is a rather insignificant blip, barely registering on the universe’s radar screen. And yet, in the earthy messiness of this life we live on this planet, there are days that have more meaning than others — Christmas, for example, is a day that most people in the Western world have infused with deep, meaningful traditions. For our friends in other parts of the world, Ramadhan and Chinese New Year (and other holidays) carry with them similar importance.
On these days, we intentionally step into a different “space”—we enter into another world, so to speak—for a period of time. We separate ourselves from normal routines and responsibilities to focus on other things. This separation is sometimes physical — we travel to a new place or go home to visit family, for example. This separation can also come by way of the music we listen to, the movies we watch (Hallmark Christmas movies, anyone?), the parties we plan and attend, and so much more.
In Genesis, God’s sets aside a day—the Sabbath—to be looked at differently. It is literally a day that is to be different than every other day. And then there’s the wedding anniversary that my wife and I recently celebrated and my upcoming birthday. And even among these special days, like anniversaries and birthdays, we choose some to be highlighted as especially important—like that big 5-0 that is looming ahead in my near future.
As human beings, we like—and perhaps need—moments to step outside of our mundane routines. So December 31 and January 1st, although 24-hour days, just like all other 24-hour days, naturally become times of reflection, reevaluation, and recentering. Whether or not you are into New Year’s resolutions or not, the turning of a new year almost instinctually becomes a time to both look back and look ahead.
The early Methodists would often gather together over New Year’s Eve for what was called a Watch Night service. It was a time of communal prayer and often included time for each participant to renew their baptismal covenant with a prayer written by John Wesley. This prayer—the Wesley Covenant Prayer—went like this:
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will, "
rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
That’s not a prayer for the faint of heart now, is it? This is an all-in, dive into the deep end of the pool, go-for-it kind of prayer. It’s not a health, wealth, and prosperity kind of prayer.
See this prayer in a fantastic cartoon from “Wesley Bros.”
Going into this new year, my hope is not in myself. My hope is in the One who promised never to leave us or forsake us; the One who has promised to walk with us and to teach us; the One who is our hope and our peace.
Let’s enter this new year all in.
“There is nothing magical about the flip of the calendar, but it represents a clean break, a new hope, and a blank canvas.”
― Jason Soroski —
Diving into Scripture
New every morning…and every year
Yahweh’s acts of commitment,
that we’re not finished
that his compassion isn’t ended.
They’re new each morning;
his truthfulness is great.
’Yahweh is my share,’
my entire being said;
therefore I shall wait for them.—Lamentations 3:22-24 (BFE)
Let me share a glimpse of how I worked through this Scripture, praying and reflecting as I went:
— Read my reflection on this Scripture —
“I'm resolving to just wing it and see what happens.”
― Bill Watterson —
One of my favorite photos
I took this photo on a drive through Glacier park in October. It was a beautiful fall day with sunny, mostly clear skies. The fall colors were outstanding. When taking photos like this, I am reminded that having finished creating, God said that all that was created was good. This world was created good and, if the vision of Revelation 21 is to be taken as a description of God's ultimate plans and purpose, God has every intention of renewing, restoring, and re-creating all of creation. And, a big part of that restoration project is carried out through us…the people of God…the church…those who walk in the dust of the Rabbi, Jesus.
— See other creative versions of this photo —
Two Past Posts to Enjoy Again
“God is not in the vastness of greatness. He is hid in the vastness of smallness. He is not in the general. He is in the particular” (Pearl Buck). God came to earth is the form of a baby, small and little, and in doing so provides for us a model for living.
Read Small And Little.
A few reflections on one of my favorite movies — It’s a Wonderful Life.
Read Meet George Bailey
Thank you for reading this first Do Everything In Love Community newsletter of 2023. As you can see we are trying some new things. Let me know what you think. We’ve got more new things coming, too.
Please help this community grow by liking, sharing, and commenting. Share this story with friends and family and on your social media, and tell people about the Do Everything In Love Community. Thank you!