For One More Day

For One More Day - You know it's the title of the book by the author of Tuesdays with Morrie. It's about a man called Charles who was a broken man. His life was destroyed by alcohol and regret.

Yes, regrets. There are many in our lives, especially at the close of the year, or the beginning of the new year. Charles wished For One More Day - a chance to make good of things that he had not done which should have been done, especially spending one more day with his mother.

Rev Lenita Tiong started with this story at the Watchnight Worship Service starting at 10:30 pm last night and stretched into 1st Jan 2009 at Wesley Methodist Church. But she did not make the story the main point.

Rev Lenita used Psalm 131 to exhort Wesleyans to hold on to the humility and submissive nature of King David and the peaceful, composed posture of a weaned child at rest so that in the new year, we can say -

O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace.

I like the portrait David paints of himself:

"My heart is not proud, O Lord , my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me" (Psalms 131:1,2).

How great are the thoughts of a man who has his mind right--no longer restless, searching, craving, struggling with the mysteries of life, but quietly abiding in his Father's love.

How are we going to live in this new year?

Rev Lenita told of the story of an airplane hitting dangerous and frightening turbulence. Everyone on the flight tightens their seat belts and feels extreme anxieties except for one little girl who continues to read her book, unconcerned about the situation. A preacher who sits next to the little girl asks, "Aren't you afraid? Is your father a pastor?" The little girl answers, "No, my daddy is the pilot and he promises to bring me home and I know he keeps his promises."

How many of us has that faith of our heavenly father who loves us and who has the power to pilot us through turbulence to safety?

Now, as we look on to the beginning of a new one, I think this is a reminder to our own hearts of the faithfulness of God. His promises will not fail. God's purposes will never be shortchanged. God is going to accomplish all that he says he will do. Though it may be a long way around, and though it may lead through many trials and temptations and hurts and heartaches, what God has said he will do, he will carry through. On that basis we can enter this new year with a deep awareness of the faithfulness of our God.

Let's be reminded. Let's be encouraged.