Beginning a new year can hold a certain melancholy as one looks back on events containing pain, sadness and regret. The dawning of a new year can also be a joyous turning of the page, holding forth new possibilities, projects, and potentialities. Frequently the pot is stirred, merging both positive and negative streams which create novel conundrums to work out in our everyday. The good news is wherever you find your self at this moment in time, the holy text reminds us that our circuitous path lies under the compassionate hands of our loving God (The Book of Proverbs).
The great theologian Karl Rahner waxes eloquently on this very truth as he reminds himself and his readers:
“Let us step forth on the adventurous journey of the heart to God! Let us run! Let us forget what lies behind us. The whole future lies open to us. Every possibility of life is still open, because we can still find God, still find more. Nothingness is over and done with for him (or her) who runs to meet God, the God whose smallest reality is greater than our boldest illusion, the God who is eternal youth and in whose country there dwells no resignation.” (Karl Rahner, The Great Church Year).
So let us run to God! Our future is full, creative, and adventurous no matter what our present season or circumstances might convey. If God is eternal youth then our true selves will one day mirror his glorious reality. In our ‘here and now,’ let’s develop our spiritual muscles, not just our physical ones. Let’s discipline our minds and hearts with inner exercises so that our whole person advances in this coming year. Let’s create a sacred regimen that fosters our true colours exhibiting the holy fruits of love, peace, joy, mercy and kindness towards all.
Some practical questions to consider as you go forward in your journey around the sun:
What are the spiritual disciplines that you want to develop in this coming year?
Can you create (or fine tune) a ‘spiritual practice’ that will support your faith journey in this new year of our Lord? (Prayer, journaling, contemplative meditation, and spiritual reading, etc.)
Perhaps my own book, Walking the Line, recently released on audio book could be an aid.
I like adventure...looking forward.; getting to know God on a deeper level...understanding His heart in living with complicated people including myself. I am looking ahead for His guidance and wisdom and seeing answers to prayers...blessed anticipation!
A prosperous and blessed New Year Pastor Alan, all. It's very hard not to look back and trying to look forward. But after revisiting the book of Job I try settled the fact that God is all in control and though it's been tuff, His is still the Master so I am focusing on small spiritual disciplines while I mused through another year.