One Word for the New Year

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

—Luke 2:52

I can’t ignore it. Everywhere I look, there it is. My eyes are drawn to it. I look up, and there it is. I drive down the road, and there it is. I open a book, and there it is.

It all started before Christmas. I cannot say exactly when, but sometime around Thanksgiving—the time when Christmas decorations went up, when I sported a Rudolph nose and posed for my annual Christmas card photo, and when it made its way on the page of my Christmas devotion. It drew us outside the night after Thanksgiving to interest little boys in the formation of stars, and two weeks later it drew me to the deck to witness a seemingly personal meteor shower in the eastern sky.

Light. A five-letter word that has manifested itself in countless ways this holiday season—from the lights on my Christmas tree to the lights strung across the streets of LaPlata, the town of my birth—but most importantly, in the birthday celebration for the One Who offers new birth to all—Christ, the Light of the world, Who brings new light to our dark places.

With the New Year just hours away, many folks have already packed up Christmas and moved onto making resolutions for self-improvement. But as for me, I can’t bear the thought of packing it up, especially the lights. Perhaps I don’t have to.

Allow me to explain. Several years ago I read about an alternative to New Year’s resolutions. Rather than making a resolution, you choose a focus word— just one word to guide you in the coming year. The first year I chose “balance.” Another year I chose “perseverance.” But this year…well, it’s been chosen for me. I can’t ignore it. It’s light.

You may be confused. Balance, you get. Perseverance, you understand. But light?

Once again, allow me to explain.

Piggybacking off Sunday's sermon (delivered by my son-in-law), I can choose light to guide my journey to self-improvement and maturity in four areas: mental, physical, spiritual, and social (just the way Jesus grew, as explained in Luke 2:52).

Mental

The best route to mental growth is enlightenment through reading and studying the Word. 

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).”

Physical

Choosing the lighter alternative when it comes to food will improve my overall health—so will lightening up.

“A cheerful heart does good like medicine (Proverbs 17:22).”

Spiritual

Light can guide my decisions in 2015, for Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).”

I choose to delight myself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

Social

I can lighten another’s load, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). And I can let my light so shine before men, that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

So you see, no packing up the lights for me. They can keep on burning throughout the coming year.

As for you, what’s your word for 2015? Look around. I’m sure it’s there. May you see the light!

Dear Lord, thank You for all the ways You teach and prune and bring about new growth. May Your Word and Your Light continue to guide me in the coming year. Amen.