Not Just Any Old Holiday
Holidays. We all have an opinion. I am limiting my focus to Federal holidays and not even all of them.
As I was thinking about holidays, it seems like one could categorize them in 3 categories.
The first category are those holidays that remember and or honor something or someone in the past. For example, Memorial Day remembers and honors those that died in the service of our country. Another one is Columbus Day (let’s not get into whether it is Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day. I looked it up and the Federal government still refers to it as Columbus Day) where we remember Columbus’ search for a route to the East Indies and in the process discovered (for the Europeans) a new continent.
The second category are those holidays that look back to something and forward at the same time. For example, Labor Day is a holiday to reflect on the contribution of labor to our economy both historical and in the future. Another and more important example, Easter and Good Friday look back to the crucifixion of our Lord and his resurrection and, as importantly, looking forward to his second coming.
The final category are those holidays that look forward. Of all the Federal holidays, New Years is the one that entirely looks forward to the new possibilities and hopes for the upcoming year (ok, you can say that New Years is also an opportunity to reflect on the recently completed year but even that is purposed to change habits for the new year).
I remember as a kid, my mother would find something unique for us to try to celebrate the new year. For example, one year she found canned whale and canned octopus at the grocery store for us to try. Looking back, I’m sure she was trying to impress upon my sister and me to not be scared to try new things in a safe environment. As I recall, I didn’t dislike nor did I like whale meat (this was in the 70’s so I don’t think the concern for whales population was known). Stretching your abilities (in a safe way) became synonymous for me with starting the new year. Looking forward to something new became a gift and an opportunity.
“You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.” - Psalm 65:11-13 ESV
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:1-4 ESV
“…so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” - Hebrews 9:28 ESV
Whenever we come near the end of a calendar year and start a new one, I pray that each of us will use whatever time God has planned for us to share his good news to others and to work on our faith walk. Isn’t it time we looked forward to our next opportunity?
