Auld Lang Syne and the like...

Happy New Year!,

Well, the new year is upon us. It is the year of our Lord 2008. Where did 2007 go exactly? It really seemed to whiz by. Usually this is the time for people to try and improve their lives by making and trying to stick to various resolutions. “This is the year! I’m going to eat less, and exercise more, and focus more on this, and take that more seriously…etc etc”. But it doesn’t usually work out. Trying to alter behavior without altering what is in your heart typically doesn’t work so well.

That’s one of the reason that it’s this time of year when United Methodist recite Wesley’s Covenant Prayer. It is a reminder and rededication of what our Christian lives are supposed to be about. It speaks to and from our servant heart.

There’s an old saying in the IT industry that runs like this “If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.” Changing yourself on the outside but not on the inside won’t change who you really are. If you focus on making sure you have the inside right, the other stuff will work itself out.

The prayer:

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Peace,

Kevin
PS OH! You ever wonder what Auld Lang Syne means in the new years eve song? Find out here.