The Old Year Runs Away From Me

By Joyce Rupp

 

the old year runs away from me.

I hang on to her sleeve

but she shakes me loose.

where does the old year go

when the new year comes?

she slips into memories

falls into the crevices of wishes

and ought-to-have-dones.

she waits no more on promises,

turns her back on might-have-been.

the elves of the old year step in,

pack up the struggles, store the joys,

tuck them away in the bulging box

spreading out on the psyche’s floor…

In these lines poet Joyce Rupp has helped me ponder what was and might have been in 2012. The Christian church centuries ago urged Jesus followers to live in a spiritual rhythm that included examining the days and years in order to see how God has been active in our lives. It remains to this day a wise and good practice.

Before 2012 runs too far away from you, stopping to ponder the following questions might serve you well moving forward:

1.      What name would you give your journey of the past year? How would you describe it to one of your friends? What picture or figure of speech would you use to talk about it?

2.      Where did you notice God at work in your life in the past year? How did God’s presence influence and/or change you?

3.      Did any of your hopes and dreams become a reality?

4.      What were your biggest disappointments

 

Now that we’ve headed into 2013, here are some similar questions to consider:

1.      What name would you like your new year’s journey to have? What are you longing for in the coming year?

2.      Of what are you most afraid as you proceed into the new year?

3.      How is your relationship with God as you begin this new year, and how do you hope it will change in 2013?

One of my goals for the coming year is to be wholeheartedly on the journey of spiritual transformation with Jesus. For this to occur, it will be important for me to allow God, through a variety of experiences, to shape me more completely into Jesus’ image. It will also be important for me to maintain the habit of paying close attention to the “highs” and “lows” that are a natural part of the journey.

By God’s grace I’m going to keep moving forward ~ with fresh courage for the journey ~ knowing that Jesus loves me beyond my wildest dreams and that he is with, in & for me!

 

Join the Conversation

Can you answer some of the questions listed above?

What answers do you find as you ponder 2012?

Fil Anderson: Fil Anderson is Executive Director of Journey Resources, based in Greensboro, North Carolina. He’s a frequent speaker at conferences, offers individual spiritual direction, and directs retreats and workshops around the country. He's the author of two books, Running on Empty: Contemplative Spirituality for Overachievers and Breaking the Rules: Trading Performance for Intimacy with God.