PERHAPS nothing appeals more strongly to most persons than the possibility of beginning anew. Because of this, the instant one's thought turns to a new year there comes before one all sorts of hopeful visions,—visions of leaving old and worn-out methods and things, of starting in afresh with new purposes and opportunities, with new hopes and advantages, with new expectations and courage. How eager one thinks he is to let go past mistakes and failures! How desirous of laying hold of the new possibilities! With what an assurance of ability to begin anew the fresh vision comes,— ability, if need be, to work out even old problems with fresh courage and hope, expecting a perfect solution to ensue as the result of all the new elements which are fondly believed will enter into the work.
Possibly there is no time when there is a more universal sense of this reviving of hope and assurance in the general thought of the world than at the beginning of each New Year. And yet, because of the frailty of all expectation based on a material, human, mortal premise, how often are such fresh hopes again apparently shattered, new ventures again proved unsuccessful, new opportunities grasped only to find it again quite impossible to work them out to a satisfactory conclusion.
It will be readily acknowledged that this is contrary to the beginning anew which goes on under God's direction and care. The Scriptures contain many a promise of renewal at God's hand, a renewing which always brings forth fruitage of good. And how grateful mankind may be that not only at the New Year, but at each hour, each moment, God is furnishing the opportunity to begin anew. The Psalmist declares of Him, "Thou renewest the face of the earth;" while Jeremiah, in speaking of God's compassions, says, "They are new every morning;" and he might well have added. They are fresh every evening. No one with a grain of faith in God's goodness could imagine any cessation of the precious seasons of happy renewal in His kingdom, where good must eternally unfold.
