If someone asks you which is more
important, the beginning or the end of
each year, what would be your answer?
You might answer that the beginning is more important because a good
start will more likely lead you to good results. Or, you will say that the end is more important,
because good results are your final goal even if you start badly.
However, it is not easy to identify
the clear points of beginning and ending in our life. The concept of the beginning and ending of
each year is one of our ways to measure time.
The beginning of something usually means the ending of the other, and
vise versa in our lives.
At this point of the year, we are
going to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, soon. But I hope we also remember the long period
of patient waiting for the Messiah’s
coming, during Advent. Jesus’ birth on
earth marked the end of the people’s long waiting. But, His ministries on earth and resurrection
are also the beginning of new life for all of us.
Maybe the most important part of our
lives is neither the beginning or ending of each step but every moment of our
lives. Beginning and ending of all time
is in God’s hand, and He wants us to enjoy and do our best to make our lives
meaningful with our trust in God’s faithfulness.
We will start our celebration of
Jesus’ birth with many events and worship services in December, including the Messiah
Concert and a joint worship service with our neighbor church, First Congregational,
on December 9.
I hope the end of this blessed year
is the beginning of another victorious year with God’s guidance. May God’s blessings be with all of us.