Like Any Other Day, Except …
Posted by: Jeff Adams in Purely Personal, Scriptural Application for Everyday Life, Social Commentary
New Year’s Eve has come once again. I have seen many of them, and they continue to fascinate me. What is it that causes many of us to stop, reflect, meditate and make promises to do better?
Hamilton Wright Mabie (1879-1914), an American essayist and associate editor of the Christian Union magazine, wrote,
New Year’s eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
Is this true of you? Does tonight’s coming of darkness bring new thoughts? Why? What are these new thoughts.
T.S. Elliot offered,
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
This morning I read the final chapter of John’s Gospel where Jesus lovingly restores Peter after his three denials on the night Jesus was delivered up to be crucified. Much has been written about the three times Jesus asks for the affirmation of Peter’s love and entrusts him with the mission of feeding his sheep.
It’s right after this, and right after Jesus has told Peter he will suffer a martyr’s death, that Peter inquires what will happen to John. Though restored, Peter clearly has some areas of immaturity left.
Jesus sharply and directly corrects Peter’s focus by asking why that should concern him. Instead, Jesus simply tells Peter to follow him.
The end of the year and the end of the Gospel – this story was a good challenge to me today to set aside areas of immaturity and imperfection to focus simply on following Jesus and all that means. That really would take care of most concerns of life, wouldn’t it? Just follow Jesus. Most everything else will fall into place according to God’s plan.
If you really want to get specific, what areas of immaturity and imperfection need to be addressed? What would it look like to do a better job of following Jesus this next year?
Benjamin Franklin said, Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
Happy New Year!
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Dear Jeff,
Thankyou for these words. This has been a particularly hard year for Curt and I. Recently I made the statement after a second family leaving our church in a months time, that I was done. I don’t want to do this anymore. I can’t handle the disapointment of investing in the lives of people and loosing them a year or two later. It’s devistating in a church as small as ours. Obviously an area of immaturity and imperfection that I’m focusing on! I love what you said about just follow Jesus and most everything else will fall into place according to God’s plan. I believe in my heart that we have tried to follow Jesus, but yet it seems like things just haven’t fallen into place for us in ministry here like we had hoped. I’m sifting through this past year and praying ernestly for God to show us what he would have us to do. I covet your prayers and wisdom and thankyou for the insight into the word of God. Hoping this year finds me a better woman…..God bless you and Cheryl…..Sincerely Kathy
Kathy, Thanks for your transparency and honesty. I hurt with you. Sometimes we measure success differently than God does. Sometimes he uses years like this past one to urge us into important transitions or simply to stand still. Whatever, I pray God will continue to use and guide you. You are loved and appreciated!