New Year's Dawn

 I hold holy communion in my hands as another year is consecrated to God, and I stare out of church windows - see the sun-glow peering out from behind the towering mountains. 

The metaphor is not lost on me as the sun's rays have seemed scarce in past weeks. Arctic living comes with long, dark winters and temporary but palpable farewell to solar-light for a few months out of the year. There have been times when the Son of my soul has felt a bit hidden as well. And today, in this small congregation, it's as though we're all trying to see small faith-glimmers shining through after a tough winter of the heart we didn't expect. 

We've been longing for spring to bloom again - for hope to be renewed, for life to emerge afresh after existing in crisis mode for the better part of a year. Just like the dark days of coldest winter here - we've all felt frozen and hardened by this difficult season...and we're praying, desiring, holding out for a thaw. For any sign the light may be coming back once more. 

Hushed hearts wait in silence as the bread and the cup are taken and souls vow to hold fast to God because He holds fast to them. To do all this living in remembrance of Him...

It's amazing how the simple turn of a calendar can bring such expectation of hope for tomorrows yet un-lived. After the past year that tested all our resolve, all our faith, it's like there was a psychological shift  come January 1. Like somehow, we could now all believe better because the old year has passed away and we now hailed the new. 

But should it take a mere flip of the month to determine our level of trust? Is our hope really that weak that only when circumstances are convenient can we anticipate with joy? 

When the Scriptures are filled with commands to rejoice at all times and to give thanks in any and all circumstances, that means that exit and enter each and every year with the greatest of peace and the utmost of optimism, knowing that joyful living, grace-filled living, is never circumstantial. The believer chooses joy, decides to hope, determines to believe under all situations because there is always something more to everything that happens. 

None of us know what is to come but whatever comes we know we can forever say, "Blessed be His name" for that is always the Way through any unknown way. 

A fresh year is dawning, and our hearts want to sense that the sun is somehow slowly but ever-so-surely returning, bringing with it a prayer for better and brighter days ahead. That the darkness is giving way to Light and hope will win out, however grim things currently appear. 

Hands clutch small, plastic cup filled with reminder of His sacrifice and of the Giver whose laid-down life gives meaning to all our lives. Rays peep out from behind the mountain, and soul soars as eyes look heavenward and lungs breathe in deep. Somehow, whatever these months hold, all of us will be held and all our days will be held, too, and we will raise songs of praise in these trying times, proclaiming regardless of what is ahead that God is goodness and we are loved. 

Faith is rising in this brand-new cycle around the sun as all our moments revolve around the Sun of our souls and our beating hearts find their rest in Him.