Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
A Happy New Year
New
Year's Resolutions?
I'm not really one to make Resolutions, they've never been something that helps me thrive. For me, the six weeks of Lent are a much more realistic target to develop and keep to new habits and goals. There is something, however, about starting the new year that focuses our minds on the future, on moving forward as well as reflecting on what has been. In the poem 'God Knows' by Minnie Haskins reflects on this new
beginning being a choice to stay safe or take the risk of place our hand in the hand of God and trust the future to Him.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out
into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
[From “God Knows” by Minnie Louise Haskins]
If you are one for
setting goals for the year, reflecting on St Paul's words to the community in Phillipi might help ground your thoughts:
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. [Philippians 4:8-9]
A prayer for the New Year
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt,
faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
[Atributted to St Francis]
