The years roll by
by chuckofish
And so we embark on a new year: 2024! I think it is a good habit to pray along with Jonathan Edwards at this time:
I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.Give me They grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.
May Thy fear be my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.
It is also worth re-reading Kevin DeYoung on the subject of not trying to be “with it” in the new year. “Give up trying to keep up. Let the pop culture whirlwind pass you by. Be wonderfully ignorant of the world of what’s happening now. Don’t worry, the important news will still get to you. But hopefully most of the other “news” won’t.”
Good grief, I couldn’t agree more.
And remember, If you’re still alive and breathing, Praise the Lord.
dual personalities 
The phrase “with my loins girt” is great. And a nice thing about having a baby last year is that I was pretty wonderfully ignorant of the world… a comedian I like has a joke that no one is more socially unaware than a woman in the suburbs with a six-month old and it’s true 😂 maybe I’ll just stick with that vibe.
I love all of this–but especially the picture of the tree.
Yep. We need to keep on keeping on!