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Speeches, even when on very special occasions,
are only very occasionally memorable. One was made so when
King George VI, quoted Marie Louise Haskins in a Christmas
Day broadcast:
I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,
Give me a light that I may tread safely in the darkness.
And he said unto me Go out in to the darkness.
Put your hand into the hand of God. That to you shall
be better than light. And safer than a known way.
So I went forth, and finding the hand of God trod
gladly into the night.
It is unnecessary to seek for a more appropriate thought
with which to go in to the New Year, the past is history,
the future is mystery, and here is the prayer, and the plan,
to face up to what the way ahead holds for us. We are being
encouraged to ask God to help us to live usefully and happily
in His will and purpose for our lives. The faith in God, articulated
in these words, is meaningful to those who having trust and
confidence in Him, show it in their character and conduct.
As we think on what may lie ahead of us we are reminded of
the necessity to shut the gate of the past and to open the
door to the future. We need, of course, to take seriously
the lessons of the past while listening to Shakespeare when
he said: Whats done and whats past should
be past grief.
Someone else advised:
Let us forget the things that vexed and tried
us.
The worrying things that caused our souls to fret.
The hopes that cherished long, were still denied us.
Let us forget.
Let us forget the things that pained us,
The greater wrongs that rankle sometimes yet,
The pride with which some lofty one disdained us.
Let us forget.
Many look back on by-gone days the old extol their
youthful times; the weak recall when they were strong; the
sick when they were well; the disappointed when they had hopes.
But there is no profit in dwelling on what was, the need is
to accept what is, and to go on determined to live in the
future as fully, hopefully and happily as we can, it could
be that the best is yet to be.
Peter begins his New Testament letter by urging his readers
to make their experiences in life a process in addition not
subtraction. He says add to your faith goodness, knowledge,
self control and the patient endurance which is the real test
of your trust in God, and avoid any draining away of spiritual
vitality. Your lives must not be complacent and unproductive.
The future will have its fears, cares and hopes. How we handle
them is what matters. The reality, of course, is that in so
many things decisions which affect us individually and collectively
are taken by others. That is the reason why we live in the
hope that in our uncertain political situation decisions will
be taken, and things made to happen, to give us the peace,
real and permanent, that we need so urgently. It has to mean
that overtures, and responses to others will be agreeable,
and beneficial, to the people whom they represent in whatever
capacity.
We, the people, must do what we can to bring about that for
which we hope. There is responsibility and opportunity to
be involved in the bringing together of people estranged from
one another for religious and political reasons, to change
old hatreds into new happy relationships, and to prove that
people can live with their differences to make a better country
for everyone.
There can be no better new year resolution than the one
that aims to contribute to that proper purpose. However others
may view themselves and their duties as citizens the Christian,
copying Christ, must show friendship, express hope and work
for peace in this divided and troubled society.
Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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