WOW… Goodbye 2016 and hello 2017.
Is it me, or does it seem as though the years are flying by faster than ever before?
Anyway… Happy New Year!
The new year brings with it some very typical responses from many, if not all of us. This time is one to reflect on the year passed, what went well, what went badly, what we want to forget and what we would like to cherish, and maybe even recreate in this coming year. Additionally, this time is one to look to the year ahead. People all around us are setting their new years resolutions. These often include, but are not limited to, losing weight, learning a new hobby, quitting a bad habit, and many, MANY more… The sad thing is though, statistics show that most of us who set a resolution never see it through. Those of us who do see it through, don’t necessarily feel the satisfaction that was expected.
Sometimes, part of these resolutions is to go to church or to explore our spirituality. To start seeking answers to some of the big questions that are on our hearts: Is there more to life than just this world? How did this world come to be what it is? What’s the purpose of life? If there is a God, what’s He about, where does that leave me? Why is there such suffering in the world? Why is my life this way? And so on… Don’t get me wrong, we don’t all have the same questions, and for some of us the questions are bigger, or smaller, or more personal, but, we do all have questions.
The thing is, often when we get these questions, we don’t explore them, or don’t know where to start, or simply feel embarrassed to talk about it with others for fear of judgement. The simple fact is that, simply reading those questions, you have probably already created a thought about me based on what you assume my answers may be, from my role, or what you know of me.
It’s tough… I know… But I want to encourage you to use this new beginning of the year, as an initiative to do just that, explore.
“Live Life Now’ is a motto that is very dear to me. It does not mean, as many may initially think, to go ‘party it up,’ however, refers to the simple notion that I can’t change what has already passed, and I don’t know what is coming, so I have to focus on today, this moment. With that being said, I feel that exploring these big things on our hearts and minds should be something that we make space for today… Because, the past is gone, and the future may not come, so why not seek answers now. As a Christian, I believe that God wants to answer many of our questions now too.
There’s a verse in the book of John, where Jesus uses the metaphor of a Good Shepherd to help people understand Him, and his role for His people. Among this passage we read, in John 10:10, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ Jesus says that He came, that we may have life in abundance. Then, we have another big question, what is life with abundance. Can I invite you to come explore that with us, along with your own questions? I can’t promise concrete answers, but I can promise, that we can journey together in exploring these things.
Maybe all that’s too much for you, and you’d rather simply have a cup of tea (or coffee in my case) and chat about the weather. Well, I’d be happy to do that with you too, so do get in touch.
Whatever you do, Live Life Now.
Originally featured in the January 2017 edition of the Gamlingay Gazette.
Simple Faith 