Post 1/2024. New year. New opportunities. New challenges. Still, the old comes with us. We face forward on the wings of all that has gone before, whether “before” spans thousands of years, a few generations, or last year. With the new, humans can review and renew the kind feelings we have for each other.

The week in pictures

Marty and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at the home of Gwen and Dean, along with Alice and Willard. Positively delicious food, convivial evening, inspirational sharing of our own versions of the 23rd Psalm.

The week’s walks included the Elkhart County River Preserve, the Goshen Mill Race, and Cabin Coffee.

Happy Birthday, Jan!

Back / Forward

Bidding farewell to auld lang syne and welcoming in the new year does not mean we suddenly develop amnesia about “the before.” The past has many lessons to teach us, if we are wont to listen.

For instance, take New Year’s resolutions. These hardly change from year to year: eat better and exercise more; lose weight; get organized; learn a new skill, hobby, language; volunteer at something new; spend more time with friends and family; save more, spend less, or spend more, save less; live life to the fullest–are we there yet?

Good start. To all our personal actions of choice, I add mind and soul to the physical. To focus on mind and soul I’ve selected some prayers of old to help set the stage for the new year. They are from The Complete Book of Christian Prayer (Continuum, New York, 1997), section 9, The Pilgrimage of Life, subsections “God’s care and guidance,” “Deliverance from evil” and “Longing for salvation.”

Happy pondering! Happy New Year!

The pilgrimage of life

Christina Rossetti, 1830-94:

Before the beginning thou hast foreknown the end,
Before the birthday the death-bed was seen of thee:
Cleanse what I cannot cleanse, mend what I cannot mend,
O Lord all-merciful, be merciful to me.
While the end is drawing near I know not mine end;
Birth I recall not, my death I cannot foresee:
O God, wise to defend, wise to befriend,
O Lord all-merciful, be merciful to me. 

Columba, c.521-97:

Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when thou are near
O king of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand. 


John Wesley, 1703-91:

Lord, let me not live to be useless.

Aethelwold, c.908-984:

The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age! The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy! Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace. Lord God, haste thee to deliver me, make haste to help me, O Lord.

Source unknown (early Cornish):

From witches, warlocks and wurricoes,
From ghoulies, ghosties and long-leggit beasties,
From all things that go bump in the night --
Good Lord, deliver me!

Ignatius of Antioch, c.35-c.107: I know what must be done. Only now am I begging to be a disciple. May nothing of powers visible or invisible prevent me, that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Come fire and cross and grapplings with wild beasts, the rending of my bones and body, come all the torments of the wicked one upon me. Only let it be mine to attain unto Jesus Christ.

Bede, 675-735: Lord God almighty, open my heart and enlighten by the grace of they Holy Spirit, that I may seek what is well-pleasing to thy will; direct my thoughts and affections to think and to do such things as may make me worthy to attain to thine unending joys in heaven; and so order my doings after they commandments that I may be ever diligent to fulfil them, and be found meet to be of thee everlastingly rewarded.

Source unknown (Celtic): As the rain hides the stars, as the autumn mist hides the hills, as the clouds veil the blue of the sky, so the dark happenings of my lot hide the shining of thy face from me. Yet, if I may hold thy hand in the darkness, it is enough. Since I know that, though I may stumble in my going, thou dost not fall.

Mechthild of Magdeburg, c.1210-c.1280:

I cannot dance, O Lord,
unless you lead me.
If you will
that I leap joyfully
then you must be the first to dance
and to sing!

Then, and only then,
will I leap for love. 
Then will I soar
from love to knowledge,
from knowledge to fruition
from fruition to beyond
all human sense.

John Henry Newman, 1801-90: Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, / Lead thou me on; / The night is dark, and I am far from home; / Lead thou me on. / Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see / The distant scene: one step enough for me.

Fresh steps!

–John

PS I’m adding my version of Psalm 23.

Psalm 23, Adapted, New Years Eve 2023

The Lord is my Librarian, I will never want for books.

She shows me where to recline among large print selections.

In hushed tone, next to a pool of Koi fish, she summarizes the newest acquisitions,

Her selections inform, entertain, and inspire my soul.

She bookmarks for me right paths of life and vitality.

All for my Lord’s outstretched hand of help and love.

Even though I may walk through dangerous haunts dark as death,

I will fear no ill;

For you, Lord, are with me;

Your copyright and barcode—

They tell me I am safe.

You host a banquet for me

while those rallied round to ban and burn books watch;

during this sacramental feast you pour a seal of blessing on my head;

My cup and saucer overflow.

Your love and mercy will always uphold me,

As long as I have breath, I shall dwell in the Word you brought to be the life and light of all people,

and I will live forever in your house.