Today begins another year. Well actually, yesterday did but it didn't feel like a new year. It was Sunday and most of the afternoon was spent cleaning up the garage, putting away Christmas decorations and removing the lights from the house. But this moring I returned to the pool and officially began training for 2006. But that's not the point.
The New Year: I liken it to a room of which you open the door and have to walk through turning on the lights one at a time to discover its contents and furnishings without stubbing your toes. When you're finished looking around on December 31st all the lights are on and everything familiar so you walk over to another door, place your hand on the door knob turning it at midnight and then stepping through.
I am always amazed at what happens in a given year. There are the expected events like holidays, birthdays and planned vacations. Then there is the unexpected: Events and occurances we never would have planned had we wanted to. These are the suprise illnesses or unfortunate loss of whatever. I look forward to the new year but at my age am beginning to walk more cautiously into that dark room.
My wife Joy asked me the other day what I expected for the coming year. I wanted to deny my gut feeling but answered anyway; I said, "Change." I'm thinking... "You know, the room I just walked out of was looking pretty comfortable." Unfortunately, once you pass into the new room there isn't a handle on the other side to let you back in. Joy just looked at me deadpan, "Change is good." She said.
I remember the last chapel I attended in Bible College. It was a commisioning service for all the exiting seniors. They brought in Dick Mills, a man who has a gift of prophecy, who prayed with each of the graduates and spoke a "Word of Knowledge" which usually included a scripture verse. When it came to my turn he prayed for me and spoke an encourageing scripture which I have since forgotten. Well, actually I never could seem to remember it because of what happened next overwhelmed me.
As I was walking back to my seat Mr. Mills said, "Hold on a second, I'm sensing a real..." and he went on to explain how the Lord was going to use me in ministry via ways which would be unique, challenging and often critisised and misunderstood. He proceeded to encourage me to stay the course and not compromise on what God was asking of me. Then these words, "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."
As I walked back to my seat I was thinking, "Okay, what was that all about?" First a simple (forgotten) word and then a, "Wait a second! I didn't hear God right the first time." moment. I was grateful for the encouragement and personal challenge but was a little unclear as to what it meant.
Several days later I recieved a call from a person who really didn't know me but was a friend of a friend and told me the Jeremiah People were going to be in town and there would an opeing in the coming tour for a person who could replace the leading-man baritone who had been in the group for five years and that I should audition. Out of the blue I get this call!First of all, this person didn't know that since my freshmen year at LIFE Bible College I had prayed for a chance to be in the Jeremiah People. Secondly, this person couldn't have known that within a week and a half I would be school-less, jobless and hopeless. Finally, this person could not have known just how much that phone call would change my life. It was a hopefilled, plan altering call that practically set my future. But most remarkable thing about getting that call was after I hung up the receiver I had no idea what was going to happen. There were no guarantees.
As a follower of Christ I have learned when the word future is used the implied definition is faith. Therefore, since we are called to walk by faith and not by sight we must walk boldly into that dark room and go into the new year or new whatever with a sense of God's purpose and assurance. Yeah, I know there are no guarantees but change is good... just try not to stub your toe.
