Thoughts for the Month

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH 2019

JANUARY

Once more we are at the beginning of a New Year and it is very tempting to re-hash the usual thoughts about New Year resolutions. Sadly, if you are like me, the spirit is always very willing but somehow, the body very quickly ‘falls by the wayside.’

So, my thoughts went back to Janus, in ancient Roman religion and myth, the god of beginnings, gates, transitions and doorways. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. It is conventionally thought that the month of January is named after Janus but according to ancient Roman farmers’ almanacs Juno was the deity of the month.

Looking to the future and to the past – that started me thinking. It is the beginning of a new year and if I want to make this a better year and me a better person then I need to look back at last year.

So, this year, instead of making resolutions that I mean to keep, but unfortunately, won’t, I have been looking back over the last year.

I thought that if I did that, I might be able to see a pattern of ‘good’ things, ‘not so good’ things or even  plain ‘bad’ things that might help me to forge a track through the coming year that is a much better one than last year.

I started with the ‘bad’ things – things that I really am ashamed of; things that I know are not acceptable if one is a true follower of Christ.

Why did I start with the ‘bad’ things?  Well, if I’m absolutely honest, and I think it is so for most, if not all, of us; it is very easy to ‘gloss’ over the really bad bits in our lives; to find excuses and not accept responsibility for our own actions.

Now, please don’t think that I have committed murder or armed robbery or broken any law – well not that I am aware of; and I’m pretty certain there isn’t an outstanding warrant in my name; it’s just that I want 2019 to be a much better year; a year when I am a better person and treat others more courteously, with deeper respect and kindness, so, I need to look back and consider where I went wrong last year.

It is quite salutary …… yes, I do remember occasions when I failed to live up to the highest of standards but I also realise how easy it is to say ….. ‘But, it happened because…..’

No – there is no acceptable excuse for me to give, or anyone else for that matter, for behaviour that is not exemplary at all times, no matter what the behaviour of others. I should feel ashamed when I fall short of what I know is right.

Even my ‘good’ behaviour should really be called ‘better’ rather than good because there is always room for improvement.

So, my thoughts for this month are about trying to live an all - round better life in 2019. Now, if you consider that a ‘New Year Resolution,’ so be it; but somehow that very ‘title’ seems to imply a ‘doomed to failure’ result, at least for me; so I’ll keep it as a ‘New Year Thought.’

New Year Thoughts

I’d like to be a better me

someone kind and true,

who always thinks of others first

and knows just what to do.

I’d like to think before I speak,

to pause before I do;

to always listen to other’s views

and value people too. 

I’d like to walk along the path,

as in days of yore

Jesus walked so straight and true

guiding us before.

‘In the path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death.’        (Proverbs Ch. 12 v 28)