This archive report was first published on 1 January 2022.
As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and promise of a fresh start. But let's not forget that the challenges we face won't simply disappear with the stroke of midnight.
COVID-19 is still with us, and the economic depression that has gripped our nation shows no signs of abating. We still owe China trillions, and the potentially explosive elections in August loom large on the horizon.
So, why the hype? Why do we attach so much significance to the start of a new year? The answer lies in the meaning and substance we attach to the things that matter in our lives.
Just as Christmas is not just about the date of Jesus' birth, but about the significance of the event itself, so too can we find meaning in the mundane. It's not about the calendar date, but about the choices we make and the actions we take every day.
As we embark on this new year, let's not make the mistake of expecting some miraculous turnaround. Instead, let's focus on making the right choices, remaining grateful for the gifts of life and love, and choosing virtue over vice and good over evil.
It's by doing so that we can create the meaning and substance that will make all the difference in our lives. Happy new year, indeed, but remember it's just another year, starting anew with just another New Year's day.
May God go ahead of you, fill and surround you with His spirit, cover your goings out and comings back, and bless you as only He can. He makes all things beautiful at the right time.
