New Year’s 2019 Message

2018 Christmas Season Series: O Come Let Us Adore Him!

The 2018-2019 holiday season we have explored the various aspects of the narrative of the first Christmas via the theme, “O Come Let Us Adore Him!” To do so we used the symbolic candles in the Advent wreath for the four weeks of Advent (Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love), and concluded with the central white Christ candle for Christmas. There are three more posts in this series—New Year’s 2019, Epiphany on January 6th, and the Conclusion, beginning with today’s post for New Year’s. 

Each year the promise of a New Year is something many of us look forward to as we hope for some excitement, some new challenges, or a change from our daily lives. We cling to and cherish the promise of hope that accompanies the idea of a new beginning or a fresh start, along with the belief and yearning for a better present and a brighter future, a second chance to have a ‘new and improved’ life. These hopes and dreams are the catalyst for many of our annual New Year’s resolutions, such as eating better, exercising, or saving money. So it can be discouraging to hear the statistics about failed resolutions and the inevitable resignation we feel when we conclude we are never going to reach our goals.

However, there is an area where we can make a significant change to improve our well-being and that is in the decision to establish and maintain healthy relationships, which can provide substantial physiological, social, and emotional health benefits. Furthermore, healthy relationships can reduce the harmful effects of stress, enhance the immune system, lessen the rates of depression, as well as lower blood pressure, the risk of cardiovascular disease, and dementia. In addition, strong relationships also provide essential social support. These beneficial relationships develop as we spend time with people, getting to know them and enjoying their company. Opportunities to develop such interpersonal connections may be found in having lunch with a friend, joining a group with members who have similar interests to yours (e.g., a walking group, a computer group, or a book club), or attending community functions.

Moreover, studies have also shown that there are physical, mental, social, and spiritual health benefits for those engaging in faith-based practices, such as prayer, meditation, developing personal spirituality and from acceptance and interactions with others during religious meetings, social gatherings, and volunteer work. 

To take the subject of the numerous benefits associated with healthy relationships, a step further, let’s consider the most important relationship we will ever have—our relationship with Christ. Just as we develop friendships with individuals by spending time with them, our relationship with Jesus grows and deepens as we spend time with Him. Unfortunately, this idea has been taught as if there’s a magical formula: 1) Have a quiet time; 2) Pray the right way; 2) Engage in volunteering in the church and the community. There is nothing wrong with any of these things. However, we need to be cautious that while we’re busy memorizing and following the formula, we may miss the still, small voice of our Saviour, “If you go the wrong way—to the right or to the left—you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right way. You should go this way,” (Isaiah 30:21, New Century Version). 

The 2018 Christmas Season may be drawing to a close, but I pray that our focus on returning to our first love for Christ and adoring Him is a decision that we will continue to make daily. The more time we spend with someone, the more we become like them; and, as Christians, isn’t this our ultimate goal?! O Come Let Us Adore Him! Hallelujah!

Happy New Year’s!

Blessings & Peace

Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk
Former Salvation Army Officer
Canada