The New Year

There was a time in my life when our family would set an annual focus—resolution—on January first each year. I remember the year of stewardship, the year of discipline, and the year of servanthood. Our family would stay up to midnight on New Year’s Eve, pray together as the clock chimed the change and conclude with a short exhortation on the annual theme. Regrettably I think that theme waned in about month or two. Yes, we would recall it on occasion but it never really settled in our individual spirits.

I am sure there are those who could share with me why the focus failed to live its twelve months, but that is not my concern. Since the time of New Year’s resolutions I have embraced a simpler plan: Instead of looking to quantify a year, I choose to measure each day, embracing the knowledge that each one is sufficient of itself.

Such practice does not limit long range goals or plans—I still have those. However, those goals maintain their proper perspective to “what would you have me do today, Lord?” As I fulfill each day in what He directs, each piece of my big-picture puzzle is appropriately and timely placed by His perfect hand. If I fail that day, I am comforted that His mercy is renewed every morning; if I succeed that day, I still hold to His mercy that is fresh daily.

Maybe that is why I go to sleep at my usual hour on New Year’s Eve; it’s not such an event anymore to see the ball drop in Times Square or the kitchen clock strike twelve. For me, each and every night is the eve of a fresh start for what the Lord has prepared with the breaking of the new and unsullied day.