The quiet ticking of my clock reminds me to finish up my work for this year. It’s about over. A new one starts in a few hours. Finish Up! Get re-organized to start again. Forget what you didn’t get accomplished and start again. Hurry! Put away the decorations and get the dates in your new calendar. 2010 is here! We start with fresh expectations. We resolve to do things differently, or to stop doing some things. We make promises. We commit anew. We have 365 new days ahead of us.
The last reading for the year in a devotional book makes it pretty simple. Psalm 62:5 says “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation.” And the gift of Christmas in 2009 was and is Jesus, God’s Son. Scripture said during Advent, “Thou shall call His name Jesus for he shall save His people from their sins.” What sins? We’re basically good people, but who has not experienced fear, doubt, impatience, a critical spirit, boredom, depression, laziness, insecurity, insensitivity, and all the rest. You name some.
Scripture says that Jesus came so that we might experience a joyful, abundant, and productive life. He walks beside of us and wants to help us through this year. And He is able and ready to start. He just asks us to return to Him, to wait on Him, to place our expectation in Him. How freeing is that? The world will never satisfy our heart’s inner longings. We can run, work, shop, exercise, and eat until we are exhausted and yet we will never be content or much less have any joy. We will just continue to run away. But Jesus knows us and knows our every need and pursues us. He can meet us where we hurt, where we struggle and can fill every desire and hope. Jesus is enough.
It is why I have chosen “Jesus” as my word for the year. He has become my very close friend. He has walked beside of me through life – celebrating joys and comforting breaking hearts. He has given me his gifts of nature, family, and friends. He has provided an abundant life in the midst of some difficult days. He has met all my needs. I shared this poem in December 2008. It seems to be appropriate each year. I do not know the author – maybe Jesus.
I Am The New Year
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice
what you have learned about life during the past 12 months.
All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve,
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but did not dare to do,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have –
these slumber lightly,
waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity to renew
your allegiance to HIM who said,
“BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW”
I AM THE NEW YEAR
