Happy? New year
Tomorrow is the big day. At the stroke of midnight, we can bid farewell, or rather a good riddance, to 2020! Once again, we get to start over. Are you ready?
The Roman god, Janus, is the origin of the name January. Janus was the god of gateways and new beginnings. I'm not into Roman gods and goddesses, but I'm glad someone thought this name appropriate for a new year. Thus, we recognize hope by greeting one another with, Happy New Year! What does it take to make you happy?
Some of us have endured the pain of lost friends and loved ones. Others are unemployed and ended the year financially strapped. I have a friend who lives in the Baltimore area. His father has been suffering from a terminal illness and needed hospice care this week. The major hospital in the region explained that they are so overwhelmed that they have no one to provide hospice care at this time. The anguish of divorce tells some people's story right now. We are all drowning in the effects of a world pandemic. Happy New Year! Are you kidding me?
American promises the "pursuit of happiness," but our forefathers failed to explain how to find this elusive life-giving ingredient. Perhaps we can find assistance from a higher Authority on these matters. God.
"12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV)
These are words written by a man chained to a Roman soldier. The Apostle Paul was a person familiar with suffering of every kind. He had endured shipwrecks, multiple beatings, and abundant abuse. He was eventually put to death for crimes he did not commit. Paul wrote a letter to his friends in the city of Philippi. In this short letter, this man of faith used the word "joy" and "rejoice" sixteen times. Go figure.
Did the Apostle know some secret that has eluded us? Perhaps he did. Consider this path to happiness in 2021.
Step One: "Not that I have already obtained all this, . . ." "Obtained what?" we ask. The contented writer wrote that his express purpose in life was to enjoy the present. Paul did not have to carry his past into his future. Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection took care of both his past and future. Paul explained that faith in Jesus and a personal relationship with God is the highway to happiness and contentment. This Roman prisoner's destiny looked like this. "somehow, attaining to the resurrection of the dead." Put your past and future in the hands of God. Find joy in "today." This kind of joy and happiness exists even when you are chained to a Roman soldier.
Step Two: Do one thing. "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind . . ." To whatever extent you live in the past, you will miss out on your future. If ever anyone had the right to be bitter about his lot in life, it was Paul. He had turned his life over to God, and what did it get him? Beatings, suffering, hunger, and pretty much anything you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Paul knew that hardship was part and parcel of life, no matter where you place your faith. Every human alive has painful, disappointing memories. 2020 may have brought your share of the pain pie. Let it go. Do not let your past define your future.
Step Three: Press on towards your goals. ". . . and straining toward what is ahead 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." I love the whole idea of the New Year. As kids, we sometimes played games where you were allowed "do-overs." We all recognized that every player makes mistakes. So, we built "grace" into the game. Mess up. Do over. In golf, it's called a "Mulligan." The Oxford dictionary explains, "(in informal golf) an extra stroke allowed after a poor shot, not counted on the scorecard." Did you fall short of your goal in 2020? Guess what? You get a do-over, a Mulligan. God gives you a Mulligan. Pick one or two or three reasonable goals and press on. Every day is a new opportunity. I like the motto by which one of my favorite writers, Regina Brett, lives. Regina says that she daily arises to these words. "Today is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." No matter what 2020 delivered to your doorstep, just go on anyway.
Step Four: Find your strength beyond yourself. Look to God. "11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)
Your happiness is not dependent upon your circumstances. I'm presently enjoying a mug of warm, spiced cider. I love this winter treat. But can I tell you what happened during the preparation of this salivary delight? I placed the cider, contained by my favorite Indiana Hoosiers mug, into the microwave. I turned it on, and it tripped the breaker. This tragedy has happened numerous times lately. It's a real pain when the lights go out in the kitchen when you are in the middle of meal preparation. I must traverse an entire stairway to the basement, where I walk clear across the room to flip the breaker switch back into the on position. I don't know why this happens, but it ticks me off! My life is so hard! How about yours?
I've visited many places in the world where they don't know what a microwave is, much less own one. No, their worry is not warm apple cider. It is finding enough rice to feed their children. Shame on me!
The power of contentment is the key to happiness. Paul figured that out. We should grasp this secret too. "More" is not the key to happiness. "Enough" is a better remedy. Perhaps a good 2021 goal is to learn contentment.
Well, there is some advice from an old sage named Paul. I think he mastered the path to happiness. I pray that you find it as well.
Happy New Year!
