It's a brand new year. It's a totally new day. The number for this new year 2010, reminds me of many science fiction movies filled with exciting plots and never-ending opportunities. I'm not suggesting that this year will be one filled with flying cars and robots, although that might be cool, but I have this gut feeling that 2010 is a year for forward looking and brave step taking.
While I write this note on the Eve of the new year, I find myself in the gear of looking back to what 2009 was. I keep thinking those thoughts like: what if I did this, that or the other thing? Would this last year have turned out different?
If permitted to, I suppose I could spend all this upcoming year fussing over what could have been in 2009, but spending my time in this way would not be wise in light of the hope and newness of the year to come.
Isaiah 43: 16,18,19 says, "This is what the Lord says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
God understands the human tendency to look to the past, to romanticize the past, and to strive to re-gain it. No doubt, the lessons we learn from life experiences in the past are valuable. However, those past experiences are ones we can't return to. We may wish for a time machine to address all of our would haves and could haves, but the fact remains - the past is past.
One of my favorite sections of this verse in Isaiah is, "See, I am doing a new thing!" It is so inspiring that God, who created the universe, time and all of creation; gets excited and likes doing new things! So if God gets excited by new things and encourages us not to dwell on the past; shouldn't we get a little amped up over the new year and the opportunities it holds?
So as the new year begins, I know I will do my best to stop looking to the past and trying to reclaim it. I will try to think optimistically, creatively and even (gasp!) outside the box that I call my life.
I may have to move into some new, challenging and unfamiliar territory to meets this new year with a smile; but I'd rather move forward into 2010 like W.H. Auden so beautifully expresses,
"I want to approach the future as a friend, without a wardrobe of excuses."
Happy New Year 2010 to you and yours. May your days be filled with opportunity, possibility and the courage to keep moving forward. Come'on all, we've got to move!
You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move, child
You gotta move
And when the Lord
get ready
You gotta move
You may be high
You may be low
You may be rich, child
You may be po'
But when the Lord
get ready
You gotta move
You may be up
You may be down
You may be buried
livin' in the ground
But when the Lord
get ready
You gotta move
Lyrics to "You've gotta move"
by the band Lost Dogs. For more information on the Lost Dogs and their music, click here.
Comments
I still look back--but moreso for a 'connect the dots' purpose.
And when I do that--utterly and completely blown away.....
Truly.....
Joyous, glorious wishes for 2010, ma'am.