Selected Writings |
| Each time a New Year rolls around I find myself with a feeling of freshness and potential. Perhaps focusing on God coming to us in the Babe of the manger leads us to sense His nearness in ways that are real and new. Maybe the end of the holiday hustle and hurry brings something of a sense of relief. Maybe it is all the wonders we see as we close out the year at Christmas. Maybe it is the lasting inspiration of holy and reverent Christmas music. Maybe it is a lingering sense of reverence, and awe, and deep-seated joy from the Christmas Eve Vespers. Whatever brings about the sense of potential and promise each New Year brings, I am grateful for it! We see God’s nearness in the proud looks of new parents and grandparents, marveling that their child is so wonderful! We hear God’s nearness as a squirrel scolds us for daring to walk across his yard! We sense God’s nearness when we see prayers answered, or when realize that we still don’t understand the answer to certain prayers. We seem to catch a glimpse of angel’s wings as a lone child asks Christ into his life, or takes a step towards God. A loved one dies, and God’s nearness is everywhere in the outpourings of heartfelt sorrow from friends and family. If we sense God’s nearness, something of a spirit of joy and potential at the New Year, can we not make that sense last longer than we keep our so-called "Resolutions"? Let me suggest a resolution for you: I resolve to look for and find God’s nearness every day of this year, in things both small and majestic. That’s my resolution for this year, along with one more: I resolve to love you and pray for you every single day! Happy New Year |