31 December 2017, marks the end of the year and January marks the beginning.
We leave 2017 which for many will be a year of mixed emotions. It was the year wherein we saw changes on a grand scale, socially and politically.
We have experienced both the joy of new life and the sorrows of the loss of life yet in the conundrum called life we continue on the journey facing all the situations that life presents.
On the 1st of January, many of like the years before will start with new resolutions to a new year.
January comes from the word Janus who was the Roman god of beginnings and endings, he is also the god of gateways, gates, doors and doorways.
The image of the god Janus had one head with two faces. One would look forward to the year ahead whilst the other face looked back to the year past.
The ironic reality is that we look both forward whilst reflecting on the past and it is the duality of both that presents us with the need to be hopeful and reflective at the same time.
Success stands side by side with failures; they are the face of the Roman god Janus and we live life co-inside with our success and failures. William Thomas wrote that “It wouldn’t be New Year’s if I didn’t have regrets.” That is a very interesting point to note.
Very few people live without regret or mistakes in their lives. Equally, very few people who have been successful can be so without making mistakes or having regrets at some point in their lives.
All this is part of the ingredients that go into making life, life.
Regardless of the year past, the fact that you and I are still alive means that we still have the time and opportunity to succeed and achieve our goals in life according to God’s calling and purpose for us all.
We can take peace and joy in God’s word and note that Isaiah 40:30-31 states, ‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint‘.
Regardless of the past year, let’s be confident in our God, get up, walk, run, fly and soar to greater heights with God as we pray that a new year will see for us a new us, we and me to the glory of God – Amen!!
Happy New Year!