Happy New Year by Robert Socha

We celebrate the passing from one year to another because the new year brings great expectations for a bright future. We choose to put the challenges and disappointments of the past year(s) behind us and look forward with hope to what lies ahead.

We hope that in 2024, we will choose to eat right, exercise, read more, and strive for more family time, more time with friends, and less time on devices. We hope to find those things that are praiseworthy, beautiful, true, and virtuous and think about them.

Unfortunately, when we open a news site or turn on a program, we are inundated with negativity and corruption. We see the wars and rumors of wars, the threat of chemical warfare impacting our crops, electronic warfare affecting our comfort, and political shenanigans aiming to cripple our economy and way of life while enriching our enemies. The advertisements are aimed at our carnal nature, seeking praise. At the same time, the government infringes on every avenue of productivity, leading to their disseminating what is or is not allowed to provide us consumers.

If the Word of God did not renew my mind daily, coping with this melee would be disconcerting at best.

Our culture has an underlying theme focusing on self and encourages us to be the best version of ourselves in a hedonistic binge toward narcissism. Every gadget and program aims at that part of our souls that needs acceptance and praise. We are to forget the arbitrary nature of the exercise and strive for its comeuppance because self-improvement’s lust is never satisfied. Additionally, the world demands acceptance and tolerance of everything, including celebrating the most vile acts committed in public and private, reserving the most severe rebuke and shunning should one choose to refute the demagoguery.

I must interject that we should work with all our heart at whatever we find ourselves doing. I can see a dear reader taking offense because they set some resolutions on self-improvement and think I am attacking their desire. Please forgive this inadequate defense. This letter appeals to the pursuit of all that is good, and only One fits that description.

I, too, want all these things mentioned above in my life. I am choosing health and life, novels and Scripture, and family and friends this year. I want them because I know the time is short, and I hope to be in good health and have strength long enough to be able to tell someone they too can be grafted into the Vine and saved should they choose to follow Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and all the world who do not even know they need saving.

Those who Believe reserve the future and hope anchored in Faith as a cornerstone to the sincere expression: Happy New Year! May 2024 draw us nearer to Thee with unspeakable joy.