Can you imagine what it was like to sit down and consider how to count the days, what to call the months and how to measure time. Darkness and light became a measurement of separation, the position of the sun, the moon and stars our maps in the sky – our compass for direction.
In our modern 21st century world, we start our year on 1 January. Each year as it arrives we are filled with this sense of anticipation of what the year will bring; will our dreams and goals be realised – will it be a good year or a bad year.
Memories
I remember clearly as a young girl owning an “autograph book”. Now, that probably really dates me as well as others who owned one. This book was a treasure of comments, words of wisdom, people memories – in fact, whoever you handed the book to with a request “won’t you write something in my book” had carte blanche to say what they wanted to say, counsel you with their words of wisdom, or jot down their favourite saying. People, who were mostly family or friends, or the significant others in your life at the time, had the opportunity to express their feelings about you, or simply their own thoughts and aspirations.
Inspiring Words
When I think of the first of January, my mind connects quickly with something my mom wrote in my one and only autograph book. She must have really liked these words about a new year. I wonder if she even dreamed that a number of decades later, her daughter would remember the words.
“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year “Give me a light that I may tread boldly into the unknown”. And he said to me, “Put your hand into the hand of God; that will be better to you than light and safer than a known way”.
“I can walk boldly”
It took me many years before that relationship with God as my Father was embraced and sealed in my heart. What a secure starting place for a new year. With my hand in His hand, I can walk boldly; I can trust I will make the right decisions and plans, knowing that, after all, He is the one who first separated light and darkness. Who knows the beginning and the end of my life and who has everything completely under control.
God, the Creator, is also author of the new; not only at the start of a year, but every day as the sun rises. We all need new, fresh starts throughout life – we don’t have to wait for that first day in January, but when it does come, perhaps you can also reflect on something someone said, or wrote, that was awe inspiring; perhaps it’s time to give someone close to you encouragement for a new start, or maybe this is your time to change direction or do something that will bring spring into your life.
Reflection
Is it perhaps time to jot an encouraging word in someone else’s book of life?