In Genesis 1:1, we are told, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Then Revelation 21:4 tells us. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” The Bible, the world, and our lives are full of new beginnings. We start a new day each morning, not knowing what will come and how it will affect us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us about God’s plan: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Proverbs 3:5-6 directs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” As with many choices, decisions, and plans, our future is decided individually by each of us. Good choices equal a good life; bad decisions give us a not-so-good life. What is a new beginning? We want to start with a clean slate, keep all the good stuff, and eliminate the embarrassing, negative, and wrong consequences we fell into. We want to have our focus on nothing but the sound, optimistic, and fun stuff. “Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines beginning as “the point at which something starts.” Thus, meaning new beginnings could be defined as a new start. We may all be able to relate to the hustle and bustle of the new year and all the resolutions we have chosen for ourselves. Some could be heartfelt, while others are merely challenges from others to keep up appearances. Either way, the good, bad, and the ugly can come to play.” (Godfrey, 2023)How do we cause a new beginning to take place? It could be suggested that we start by searching for new motivation and become interested in things we are not familiar with. Try to grow and learn new ideas and how to implement them into our daily activities. Have you ever read the Bible from cover to cover. It is easier than you think. Enhanced Creativity: Novel situations demand innovative thinking. When we encounter new beginnings, we are prompted to think outside the box, which is scary and uncomfortable. Acceptance of the unfamiliar spurs new ideas and unleashes our creative potential. You have to be willing to meet new people to learn and expand your well-being. Join a civic grow, play golf with a new foursome, and take a class at the community college. Everyone needs to know how to weld. If you keep the same routine, eat at the same restaurant, and associate with the same folks, nothing new will happen. Try something that scares you. Cave exploration, parachuting, and scuba diving scare me to think about. Finally, one of the most important things to start new is to gather a desire and experience new opportunities. Count your blessings, pay attention to your life, and open your eyes to what is happening. Dean Wormer at Faber College once told a group of students that “fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.” If you were one of those who followed this story, the students Dean Wormer was talking to actually became very successful businessmen, doctors, and government officials. If I could speak to some troubled students again, I may say something similar to what Dean Wormer noted. Still, I would add that they should pray a lot, count their many blessings, and look for all the good in life.
If you do not like where your life is headed, turn the page and start a new chapter. Psalm 23:1-6 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Godfrey, J. (2023, 1 9). New Beginnings. Retrieved from The Counselors Center: https://tffcounseling.com/tffcc-blog/2022/12/21/new-beginnings#:~:text=Merriam%20Webster’ s%20dictionary%20defines%20beginning,we%20have%20chosen%20for%20ourselves.