Where is God in this?

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie

New Year's Day is a holiday that is about nothing more than noting the passage of time. A little history trivia helps puts this day in perspective. When Julius Caesar introduced the calendar dated from the start of his reign in 45 b.c., January 1 was the first day of the year. But the church council of Tours in 567 a.d. moved the date giving preference to March 25, a day nine months before Christmas and so the presumed date of Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit. For just over 1,000 years, March 25—known in church terms as the Annunciation, for the day the Angel Gabriel visited Mary—was New Year's Day. Some countries, including England, held out until the mid-18th century to change New Year's back to Julius Caeser's date of January 1.

In any case, marking the passage of time is helpful. We all need times of taking stock, deciding what matters and setting new priorities. For the church year, this comes in Lent with 40 days of resolve leading up to Easter. But if it comes for you on this day, that's fine too. Whenever it comes, a time of introspection should include asking "Where is God in this?" "How has God been involved in my life up until now?" and "How would I like involve God in my future?"

Even the atheist can ask this, but his or her answer will be different from mine. Where has God been in your life? How would you like to involve God in your life in 2008? What will you do to make room for God?

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.
—Henry Ward Beecher