It takes a full year to unwrap the gift that follows Christmas. But we’ll unwrap 2015 together, one minute, hour, day, week, month at a time. We may not have realized it then, but we did that in 2014, and 2013, and each year prior, reaching back to our births.
If you had known what 2014 would hold; if you had the chance to refuse to open some of its smaller bits – to set them aside, send them back to God, would you have taken it?
Most of us would. Collectively, we may have rejected our economic downturns, the weeks of rain in early summer that caused so many homes, communities and fields to flood in our area; strings of six (or ten)-o-clock news hours with their graphic coverage of horrific world events that kept us awake at night,.
Individually, we’d each have our own list of things we’d prefer 2014 didn’t include. The moment we spoke a word (or string of words) we’d take back, perhaps. The weekend fling that changed everything. Some of us would have refused the days we made commitments we wish we hadn’t, and comments we wish we had – and vice verse. We may also have on our lists the fragment of time we glanced down to send or receive a text while driving, the hours we had to part with a loved one, a friendship, a career or cherished pet.
On a few people’s list of “most regretted moments of 2014” surely must be their tattoos. According to Mr. Google, the “Worst Tattoo Fails of 2014,” included the following very visible tattoos – grammar and spelling mistakes intact:
“Never don’t give Up,” (outside arm, shoulder to elbow). “Plan Ahea” (on a flat pair of hands, side by side, thumbs drawn in). “Stay strong, no matter wath happens,” (across the top of someone’s back). “Don’t let the past make your disicions for today.” (forearm). I’m betting that some of those people may choose to erase their tattoos. If only taking back the 2014 moments we hate to recall was that simple.
You may be familiar with Ecclesiastes 3:3, which reads, “There is a time for everything, and a purpose for every activity under the heavens.” The list continues, adding many familiar life events: a time to be born, to die, to plant, to uproot, to kill, heal, weep, laugh, mourn, dance….
“Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before,” the writer adds, then in verse 15, warns… “and God will call the past to account.”
So here we stand, poised at the cusp of our new calendar. Knowing that God walks alongside, but wondering what his 2015 gift of 365 days will hold; wishing to be strong and brave, hoping to be wise rather than foolish and, most of all, praying to be faithful, not faithless, so that when the Divine Accountant audits the book of our days, we’ll have no reason to hang our head.
Welcome to 2015. Enjoy the gift.
