New Year

The year has come to an end. And tonight, many (or perhaps most) people will be out somewhere or other, merrymaking or perhaps at a watchnight service, to welcome the new year. My church combined the watchnight with Sunday worship yesterday. But I was away at a retreat house in Gentings for a day of recollection with a couple of friends.

We came back today. For me, it was a time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the coming one. I used the review questions for myself but still have several things to delve more deeply into. I am not sure what the Lord has in store for me in 2008. I hear a lot about "waiting" and allowing him to "work in me and for me". I guess that is what he has in store even though I have to wait for it! Let me as Mary did, "ponder and treasure things in my heart". Though the waiting will be uncomfortable, it does help to deepen the journey of desire. I am really glad that one of the SD groups I am part of chose to read the Journey of Desire (John Eldredge) over the past few months. We are finishing the book this month. The author has put into words something that gives impetus to the journey, that balances and affirms using the 'head and heart' dimensions of our faith.

He quotes from Augustine: The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing. What you desire ardently as yet you do not see...by withholding of the vision, God extends the longing, through longing he extends the soul, by extending he makes room in it. So, let us long because we are to be filled...that is our life, to be exercised by longing".

The fruitfulness of the year ahead will depend on constantly holding on to the (holy) longing, constantly asking God to reveal my deepest desires (which will be his desire for me), and seeking the grace to know my Lord better that I may love him more deeply and follow him more closely.