NEW YEARS IN THE DAYS OF YESTERDAY
I can scarcely remember my childhood experiences of "Bringing in a New Year". I do recall that as the New Year was ushered in, people greeted it with a lot of noise making, but I don't recall being told WHY.
During teenage years, churches held "Watch night Services". There would be an abundance of singing and preaching, beginning around 7:30 o'clock. A time of refreshment and fellowship time would take place from about 10 until 11 o'clock. More challenging "preaching" would then occur until about 11:50, or so - then, on our knees, the congregation, would pray OUT the old year, expressing thanks to the Lord for His watch care, and then "Pray in the New Year", seeking His grace and guidance for what lay
ahead...
On some occasions, teenagers would then gather in the home of a congenial family, where we played table games and consumed additional refreshments (mostly popcorn and "soda pop") until the new day dawned. There were no intoxicating beverages, no smoke filled rooms, no loud "boom boxes" and certainly no sexual activity involved. As Christian teenagers, we talked of our anticipation of involvement in the new year. A few would be making plans for college, others would hope for finding employment so as to discover some measure of independence. There was an air of anticipation of the new year providing some improvement in our personal living and in our Christian service.
There were no televisions on which to watch a series of football games on New Year's Day. I do not recall "sleeping away New Year's Day", but as for the following day - it was back to wherever we left off on December 31st.. There was not a "pot of gold" discovered at the end of a rainbow, but neither did the Lord go out of business - nor has He ever failed in His promise to care for His own.
During my pastoral years,"Watch night Services" were conducted, but the hours were somewhat abbreviated, as even the Christians began to require more "personal private time" - much of which was out of tune with "preaching and praying". Eventually, the watch night service was restricted to an hour prior to midnight - then it faded altogether.
As 2006 was drawing to a close, I did spend some time of reflection on the goodness of the Lord - for His watch care, the supplying of daily needs, the love of family, friends and neighbors, for daily physical stamina and for a bright prospect of the approaching year. What will 2007 bring into my life? Will it be a continuation of a display of the Lord's goodness, or will advancing old age introduce more limitations, even some disappointments? Only our gracious God knows, and "He holds my hand" - so come what may! That just may involve the Savior's return!
I wish to take a moment of time to express to each one the anticipation of a joyous and prosperous New Year. Some will be getting married, others will launch out into new employment, some will enter college - some will encounter "retirement" - whatever that is.
But remember this
-
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding,
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes;
fear the Lord, and depart from evil,
It shall be health to thy navel, and
marrow to thy bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)
In joyous anticipation,
Lee R. Russell
Used by Permission L.R. Russell