Last Sunday at church, my gaze kept being drawn to the very large nativity scene on the far side of the altar. Not just to the scene itself but especially to the star made of blue lights above it. The image of the star, and of its special role in the Nativity, stayed with me for a few days: When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (Matt 2:10)
Now that it’s New Year’s Day, I see this guiding star as a sign and a comfort. I of course do not know what this new year will bring, but I, too, wish to be overjoyed at being close to Jesus. I pray that I am guided to the experiences, places, and people the Lord wants me to encounter this year. I pray that I am guided to be open to, and trust in, His will for me. I’m not so sure I did very well with those last year, so I welcome this new beginning – this appropriate time to start anew. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17)
A New Year is a mix of looking forward and looking back. We likely approach the new year with hope, anticipation, and curiosity while reflecting on the prior year with gratitude, joy, and possibly a little regret. This annual cycle of reflection and wonder, of reviewing the past while welcoming the future, is a wonderful invitation for us to review, reset, and renew. As we turn the page of the calendar and encounter this new beginning, let us look for the gift of guiding stars around us. Strengthened by the grace of God’s merciful love, let us be guiding stars for one another in faith, comfort, and hope. And as we hear ‘Happy New Year’ in the coming days, let us truly be happy and overjoyed to welcome Jesus in our hearts.
Journeying to Grace 