The Wonder of a New Year
My black lab Bella and I were out on our regular morning walk, enjoying the sun which hadn’t shone for two days. It was cold, snow was still on the ground, but the sidewalks were clear for the most part. As we made our way to the park on a curving sidewalk between two houses, we heard an unexpected sound slightly behind and to our right. It was the melodic ‘clip-clop’ of a horse’s hooves. There are properties nearby with horses, but I rarely see them beyond their fences. But here, just ten or so yards from us, was a beautiful brown horse carrying a man who waved ‘good morning’ to us.
I smiled at seeing this beautiful creature, then looked down at Bella. She seemed to be frozen, only moving her head as she watched the horse go by. She didn’t pull. She didn’t bark. She just stood still – in wonder. As I watched her, I realized Bella had never seen a horse before. We stood there in place until the horse was behind the trees and out of our sight. When the ‘clip-clop’ faded, we resumed our route. Once we returned home (and Bella enjoyed her treats, of course), I couldn’t help but think about her reaction. She is not an inquisitive, curious puppy. She is 13.5 years old and pretty set in her ways: sleeps often, eats breakfast and dinner at the same time every day, and goes to bed fairly early. Yet during something so routine as a morning walk, was this surprise encounter. An encounter that caused her/us to stop in our tracks and take it in. This was a moment of wonder, a welcome interruption to the ordinary, a reminder to me that in the ordinary, wonderful and unexpected things can happen.
I am prayerful and hopeful that more moments of wonder present themselves this coming year. Though I have planned some events myself, I do not know what God has planned for me. In faith and in trust, I hope we all do our best to enter this new year with a spirit of welcome to what the Lord will bring our way. He may ask something of us. He may want to teach us something. He may lead us somewhere unknown. While we continue with our ordinary tasks and go about our plans, let us pray that the Lord finds us open to the work He has for us; that through His love and grace, we grow in faith; and that we stop to take in the gift of unexpected moments of wonder. May you and your loved ones have a blessed and wonderful 2024.
Two additional Notes: 1) Several days later, we walked this same path again. When we reached the sidewalk where we had encountered the horse, I smiled when Bella stopped and looked back. Hoping to see the horse again? 2) I wrote these thoughts just a few days after Thanksgiving Day, 2023. I could not have known then that I would have to say goodbye to Bella in just a short two weeks following a very quick illness. I treasure the memory of her companionship and her lesson in wonder.
Journeying to Grace 