I must admit, I whispered that because I don’t know where you are at this point in your life. I stopped staying up to greet the new year a long time ago, probably when my last child moved out of the house. I can remember as in my immaturity wanting to stay up all night. I can remember as a teenager going out and running around with my friends until past midnight at least. I can remember the challenge. I have never been one to party hard, drink excessively, and hope I got home alive. It was enough to stay up as late as I could.
No more. I go to bed. I get up. New Year’s Day is just another day of retirement.
It is also a good day to stop and contemplate the future. Every culture has these moments. We know about the Chinese new year with the dancing dragons and the fireworks. There is a Jewish new year. The Muslims celebrate a new year. It goes on everywhere and in addition to the celebration and partying there is often serious reflection on what direction your life should go.
One Bible verse that stands out to us this way is,
Joshua 24:15 (KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.We don’t have Amorites anymore. Your fathers may not have served the God of the Bible. Nevertheless, today is a day of decision. It could simply be to be a better parent, or to spend less money on Twinkies. Do you have decisions to make? Of course you do. The big decision is what is your motivating force, you’re guiding light, the compass that provides direction. I would trust that you would make a decision today, to serve the Lord. I would hope that’s just a repeat of last year. I would hope it’s just a desire to do better rather than a need to make a radical change.
I pray that you would take advantage of the opportunity you have by taking the day off, spending time with family and time alone.
Happy new year. May God bless you and may you be obedient to him.
homo unius libri
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