Welcome to the New Year, my friends. 2023 is before us, and I love a blank slate. The hope, the anticipation, the possibilities of this new year, make me as giddy as our dog Cash when he knows his treat is coming.
Our family escaped this weekend to the North Carolina mountains to find a bit of peace and quiet as we look ahead to the coming year. I find that I focus clearly when there is beauty before me. Somehow, everything becomes clearer, the focus narrows.
Tim and I spent New Year’s Eve discussing our resolutions. He laughed as I shared my three pages of notes. Ambitious, are we? he joked. Not ambitious, just determined. Determined to make this year fruitful. We have one life to live, and
“Much as we wish, not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours, and it will not be ours for long, and once it is gone it will never in all time be ours again. Thou only knowest what it holds in store for us, yet even we know something of what it will hold. The chance to speak the truth, to show mercy, to ease another’s burden. The chance to resist evil, to remember all the good times and good people of our past, to be brave, to be strong, to be glad.”
― Frederick Buechner, The Hungering Dark
I’m looking at the year ahead beginning with this one day. It is mine for these few hours and will never return to me again. Will I speak truth? Will I believe the best of those around me? Will I forgive when it hurts? Will I tend to those I love?
We may not know exactly what the year ahead holds, but we do know some things for certain it will provide: opportunities to do good, blank slates to create beautiful canvases, tears that can be turned to worship.
What do you hope to bring forth in this new year? What do you want your life to birth?
I’m reminded of Ephesians 5:15,
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”
This day, this month, this year breaks open before us wide with the possibility of making the most of everything that comes across our path.
In our homes, we can tend to the hearts of those nearest us making them feel safe and loved. In our work place, we can pursue excellence knowing we have been given unique gifts to serve others. In our private lives, we can pray for wisdom to conform to the likeness of the One who is Beauty itself.
What will we birth in 2023?
The mountains break forth in joy before me. The wind whispers a song of joy through the trees. And even as the sun rises to coat my body in warmth, I know that each day will not feel like this one.
The daily grind will threaten to steal my laughter, the mounting tasks will overwhelm my spirit …and yet, I can remember. Remember to fight for beauty in all things, to be brave when fear threatens to overtake, and to rejoice when the hard times come.
Because only today is ours.
I feel like past few years I’ve really come to know the God who weeps with me in sorrow, but I feel like I’m coming to know the God who laughs with me in joy. I hope that this is the year that I’ll come to understand the Joy of the Lord is my strength. As I center myself in Christ and find His beauty arching above it all I understand suffering; now I want to become acquainted with joy
I loved the following lines you wrote: "The mountains break forth in joy before me. The wind whispers a song of joy through the trees." One goal in this next year is to heighten my senses in appreciating God's joy in everything - that it would draw me closer to His heart.