DAWN. I touched down on the tarmac of the Fort McMurray airport shortly before midnight of New Year’s Eve of 2015. A pastor friend graciously picked me up and delivered me to my apartment. As I walked toward the back entrance with suitcases in hand, fireworks pierced the skies, celebrating the New Year! The midnight hour had struck and the New Year of 2016 had ‘dawned’.
I always consider the transition from one year to another as a time of new beginnings. The dawning of fresh opportunities. Perhaps this is the year in which we enable others to have their own new beginnings. There are many who struggle to welcome this New Year because of the uncertainties of life. We may be the ones who can be their encouragers. Our new beginning may be ensuring that someone else has their new beginning!
A staff member recently loaned me a book entitled “Giving” written by former US President, Bill Clinton. A story caught my attention. A devastating tsunami had taken the lives of untold numbers of Indonesians, including many children. At a subsequent visit, a newborn boy was shown to Mr. Clinton, who was asked to give a name to this child. “I asked if there was an Indonesian word for ‘new beginning.’” The response: “Yes, in our language, the word ‘dawn’ is a boy’s name not a girl’s. We will call this child Dawn, and he will symbolize our new beginning.”
As Christians we have been afforded a new spiritual beginning by virtue of the forgiveness we have received. It is in our power to so give that others may see the dawning of their new beginnings! NorthLife Church is “a family of nations loving God together.” Together in 2016 we shall go, gather, give and grow with ever-enlarging hearts for the diversity of peoples that surround us.