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Central United
Methodist Church
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Lewis Street at Beverley
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Staunton VA
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Founded in 1797
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Rev. David D. Reed, Pastor
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January 2006
A
Glance Back
And
A Forward Look
Happy New Year! It is my greatest wish for each of you that this coming
year be filled with joy, peace and prosperity. Standing at the entry
way to a new year is like looking over a meadow of freshly fallen snow.
It is a beautiful scene and not one footprint has yet disturbed the
surface. What rich possibilities we face! Oh, I know, this undisturbed
view can't last. We will step into the new year leaving footprints
everywhere and by the end of the year the scene will be greatly changed.
So, before marching off into the New Year, take a look back at the old
year and ask some honest, personal questions. Notice the footprints
left last year; where did they lead? If those same steps are followed
will they lead to a desired destination? Notice not only where you have
gone but where have you not gone. Were important places left out of
your journey? Take time to glance back and honestly evaluate where you
have been before running headlong into 2006. Socrates once said: “The
unexamined life isn't worth living.” That seems a little strong but
clearly, life is best lived when we are intentional about where we go
and what we do.
What is learned from our glance back is important as we step into the
New Year. Each of us has problem areas in our lives. There are blind
spots, weaknesses and character flaws. Yet, none of these need rob us
of our joy in living nor deny us meaningful lives. The Apostle Paul
(Romans 5: 20-21) would remind us that knowledge of our failures, even
our darkest sin, is not the final statement about life. He insists that
grace is greater than our blind spots, weaknesses and our
character flaws.
The New Year is before us like freshly fallen snow. Not one blemish
scars the scene. How intentionally we enter the year is up to us. The
prints we leave will reflect the path we travel. We can stumble along
or we can honestly engage the year that emerges. We can commit to live
our values with conviction and take intentional steps. The direction we
choose will either leave us enriched or impoverished.
Glance back at the year that is ending, take a good look forward at the
year ahead; make plans for the New Year and commit yourself to a path
of enrichment for 2006.
Grace and Peace,
David
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