New Year. New Beginnings.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I’ve seen the New Year roll around nearly 70 times. Every year, some things happen just like they have every other year. People resolve to make changes. They consider it a time of “starting over.” Their resolve—or their determination—lasts for days or weeks. By this time in February, most resolutions have died, and the New Year isn’t new anymore. Always the same.
I always keep my New Year’s resolution. I only make one: I resolve not to make any New Year's resolutions. Check.
That doesn’t mean starting over isn’t precious. Every year, every day, some things do change. It’s the first year without a loved one who passed away last year. It’s the first day after losing a job. It’s the first day or first year after moving into a new house.
There are always firsts and lasts. Sometimes we know something is the first time or the last time. Sometimes we don’t. Six years ago, our oldest son spent the holidays with us. We didn’t know he would pass away only 10 days into the new year.
The inspired writer of Ecclesiastes advised us to recognize these facts of life. Traditionally, Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. Legend says Solomon owned a ring that had inscribed within it a phrase representing the ultimate wisdom. The inscription read, “This, too, shall pass.”
It is a new beginning, not just because of the turning of a calendar page, but because today is not yesterday. We have all heard that the only constant is change. We can recognize that truth, implied by Solomon. We should also recognize the paradoxical opposite truth, stated by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 13 verse 8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!”
Prayer
Father, there is not a time in this universe that is not filled by you. Everything changes for us, your children, but you are always with us, and through the gift of your Son living as one of us and dying for us, you free us from the bonds of our past. Thank you, Father, for enabling us to start over. Amen.
This devotional was written and read by Donn King.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
