There is a feeling of snow in the air…snow coming soon. There is still the feeling of Christmas in our midst but soon it will be in the rearview mirror. The Bible tells us, ‘ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick but when the desire cometh it is a tree of life.’ 

The old Mission Impossible television show began each week with the head spy receiving a reel-to-reel tape recording of his team’s mission…’If you choose to accept it?’ We have the same question daily and certainly at the beginning of the New Year. 

Many times our hopes deferred are realized when we help others reach their hopes. Not so long ago we understood that good manners trustworthiness and character were of paramount importance to our daily walk. How does a leader explain why they are making fun of a person’s challenges? 

When thinking of Next…we must think of our future as human beings on the journey back to Jerusalem…not just what we like and enjoy. Change is as certain as the Sun rising in the morning. 

Thinking of others is the key to happiness. Empathy is vital. Our hopes are wrapped in shiny wrapping paper that is bound together with the most festive ribbon.  If you were sitting around the Christmas Tree and watching our hopes being unwrapped…you would notice the peculiarity of their similarity. 

We think that we are all quite different but the truth be known is that we are much more alike than different. We want answers to life’s persistent questions. We want peace rather than war. To receive these mutual desires for the future will require listening to others with whom we disagree. It will require an open mind. It will require a mutual affection for our species…the human species. 

Next…is not easy…it is not a given…it has not been written in stone. Next depends on us. Rome fell from internal divisions. Churches in the United States are doing the same thing. 

Money has shut and padlocked many mouths. Good people who fear losing their livelihoods are silenced by those who write their paychecks. The people we elect to be our leaders often are not rich. Congress or the Senate is a bit better than any job they have experienced. Our political system was to be so…full of farmers and labor and businessmen and clergy…it was to be gatherings of the people. The intention of our founding fathers was to have the people’s voice to be heard and then after a season, they would return to their chosen vocation. 

Let us talk about what we want next. Our church is currently having this important discussion. We must be clear regarding our vision for the future. Our voice is not more important…but is as important as our brother and sister’s voice in fashioning what is…Next…