An Unknown Year
A blank page is a real challenge to an artist, a musician or a writer. The artist stares at the blank page, trying to get inspiration to create something beautiful and meaningful.
As you look at the blank squares of the new calendar for this year, you might have the same feelings. Each of the 365 squares is basically blank, except for a number and maybe a special event printed in it. Each square represents a segment of time that you, by your actions, will write upon. The other determining factor is the possibility of your life. It IS a vapor that will soon pass away, and we must never assume that we will be there to “live out” any of those squares for 2009. (Jas. 4:13, ff.)
Suppose you had an “early edition” calendar of your life for 2009, in which the events of your life were written out for you. Would that interest you? Would it scare you? If this were the year that you were to die, would you like to see the date? What preparations would you like to make, in view of those anticipated events?
Maybe it’s good that God does not give us such a calendar. We would be so preoccupied with the future to the extent that we would forget to live in the present. This is why Jesus wisely taught us to not worry about tomorrow (Mtt. 6:34); don’t worry about those “blank squares.”
Long ago the psalmist wrote by inspiration, “For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psa. 18:28) As one tries to look into, and to anticipate the dark and uncertain future, one needs some help. Louise Haskins wrote these lines, to help us understand the walk of faith we all must take.
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put thine hand into the hand of God. That shall be better to thee than light and safer than a known way.”
Dear Family, treasure your relationship with God, and go forward with Him. Live fearlessly, as Jesus taught, and do not be afraid.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, anyway! …in spite of it all!
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