A New Hope for 2011
Written for parish magazine January 2011, not used as it seemed like it was from a vicar, which I'm not...
This is one of those times when the first paragraph was written last, because I realised that the title made it sound like I was writing about Star Wars, but that isn’t the case, this time. My apologies if that got your interest!
Reflecting in the middle of December of 2010 on what 2011 may bring can seem like trying to gaze into a crystal ball (for the more secular folks out there). It is certain that 2011 may bring some difficult times with reductions in budgets across many areas of Government spending. This in turn may increase hardship and possibly bring increased protests and demonstrations. The employment market will also struggle as a result, making many of us in work less secure, those out of work less likely to find work and increasing the risk of unemployment.
In addition, many of us will be praying for specific world issues, for the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the financially troubled, the sick, people with AIDS, war, terrorism and the environment, the impact of climate change and natural disasters will all play a part. Our prayers will focus on how these issues can be dealt with and how those affected can best be helped.
The future can be a very daunting place for many people, especially if the recent past has been difficult to deal with. There will be many challenges ahead as there always are. Many of us struggle to deal with the world and its uncertainties. But as Jesus said in Matthew 6:34,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
It is so important not to let our worries get on top of us, and yet I can be as guilty of this as anyone!
So a new year is often a time when we can feel like we need to wipe the slate clean and start again or perhaps to make some new resolutions to change some aspect of our lives. This can be very tempting if some aspect of ourselves or our lives isn’t working out as we may like it to. A quick-fix resolution to which our hearts may not be truly committed, may only last a few months at best. Having passed a birthday last year with a zero in it, I have come to realise that the future is not an unknown scary place. The future does have hope, love and faith in it for all of us, because we are God’s people. So after searching for the right words, as often happens, they appear in the bible in Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
That therefore is my resolution for next year. This is a resolution I think I can keep, and with God’s blessing, perhaps we all can too. It can give new hope for us all and by trusting in God in 2011, may we all have a fulfilling and exciting new year.
This is one of those times when the first paragraph was written last, because I realised that the title made it sound like I was writing about Star Wars, but that isn’t the case, this time. My apologies if that got your interest!
Reflecting in the middle of December of 2010 on what 2011 may bring can seem like trying to gaze into a crystal ball (for the more secular folks out there). It is certain that 2011 may bring some difficult times with reductions in budgets across many areas of Government spending. This in turn may increase hardship and possibly bring increased protests and demonstrations. The employment market will also struggle as a result, making many of us in work less secure, those out of work less likely to find work and increasing the risk of unemployment.
In addition, many of us will be praying for specific world issues, for the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the financially troubled, the sick, people with AIDS, war, terrorism and the environment, the impact of climate change and natural disasters will all play a part. Our prayers will focus on how these issues can be dealt with and how those affected can best be helped.
The future can be a very daunting place for many people, especially if the recent past has been difficult to deal with. There will be many challenges ahead as there always are. Many of us struggle to deal with the world and its uncertainties. But as Jesus said in Matthew 6:34,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
It is so important not to let our worries get on top of us, and yet I can be as guilty of this as anyone!
So a new year is often a time when we can feel like we need to wipe the slate clean and start again or perhaps to make some new resolutions to change some aspect of our lives. This can be very tempting if some aspect of ourselves or our lives isn’t working out as we may like it to. A quick-fix resolution to which our hearts may not be truly committed, may only last a few months at best. Having passed a birthday last year with a zero in it, I have come to realise that the future is not an unknown scary place. The future does have hope, love and faith in it for all of us, because we are God’s people. So after searching for the right words, as often happens, they appear in the bible in Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
That therefore is my resolution for next year. This is a resolution I think I can keep, and with God’s blessing, perhaps we all can too. It can give new hope for us all and by trusting in God in 2011, may we all have a fulfilling and exciting new year.
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