Officially, we have a new year beginning today. Last night champagne flowed, people danced and resolutions were made. People made commitments to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise, get a better education so they could get out of their dead-end job, get out of debt. Some few will complete the change. Many of those resolutions will be broken today. Others may last a few weeks.
We have a new president who promises change. President-elect Obama is different in very many ways from President Bush. He’ll put new people into office. He’ll change policy. He says he’ll work to facilitate a speedy end to the war in Iraq. He’s our first African-American president. But he is still, at the core, what Bush, Clinton, Regan, the other Bush, Carter and all the others before that were – he is a politician. And the beat goes on.
There is fighting in Israel. Gas prices are on their way back up. Retail stores are running major sales in the hopes of drawing people in to buy after the Xmas spending spree. I could go on. Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Sonny & Cher said it more poetically: “Grandma's sit in chairs and reminisce, Boys keep chasing girls to get a kiss, The cars keep going faster all the time, Bum still cries, ‘Hey buddy have you got a dime?’"(Okay, so they ask for a dollar these days.) “Men still keep on marching off to war.” “And the beat goes on….”
It is 2009 – nine years beyond what we thought would be the end of the world due to the collapse of computers in 2000 – and it looks like we might be in for more of the same old thing we’ve experienced for thousands of years. Bummer. I’m old enough and have seen enough of the world’s pain and sorrow to really, really mean it when I say, “Please, Jesus, come soon!”
In the mean time, a Christian’s life is one of moving forward. Each day, we should be getting more Christ like. Each day, we should set an example for those around us. Each day, we should spread love, peace and joy. Each day, we should pray. Each day, we put one foot in front of the other, moving ever onward toward the Kingdom. And the beat goes on…
God knows we can get warn out with it all. So, Galatians 6:9 says, “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (New Living Translation)
The good news is that each day, no matter how much it seems just like the day before, is actually one day closer to Jesus’ return to rule and reign on this earth. Praise God! There is light at the end of the tunnel. One day things will really change. Christians just need to keep on doing what Christians are called to do.
And the beat goes on…La-dee-da-dee-dee; La-dee-da-dee-da……
With love, Nancy
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