Reflections on New Beginnings

I’m sitting outside on the veranda. It’s gently raining, calming the dust and wind of earlier, soothing the heat. The sound and smell of falling rain reminds me of new beginnings. It’s kind of late to be talking about new beginnings – ‘most everyone wrote those posts a month or two ago. But this passing storm reminds me that there’s no wrong time to start over, begin afresh, experience new inspiration. 

We’ve had a lot of summer storms the past couple of weeks. I’m not a fan of storms, generally speaking, but the rain, the change in temperature, the freshness it brings to the earth – there’s nothing more refreshing after a morning of dusty wind and humidity as the storm brewed. Maybe that’s how it goes with life as well. There are parts of change, of new beginnings, I dislike. It can be uncertain, uncomfortable. If I could see a clear transition from ‘this’ to ‘that’ with both clearly defined, and the exact steps to move forward, I might let go. But what happens when you feel like it’s a fresh start, but you can’t quite see where you’re going, what it’s the beginning of?

That’s how I’m feeling right now. I’m learning more of what God has for me, but there’s still so much in the haze. I can see a couple of steps forward, but I have no idea about the rest of it, or what the destination even is. For so long this is what has kept me from beginning; I wanted the whole picture so I could plan and organize – and procrastinate and freak out. I am a pro at finding excuses and believing them until I can see no way forward. But that’s all they are: excuses. 

Imagine if the storm around me operated that way. I don’t feel like raining today – who knows if it will even reach the ground! Maybe nobody will notice it. All my effort will be wasted! Or I might have to go through a wall of dust! That’s so hard and gross! It’s ludicrous to think about. God doesn’t make excuses – He says, He does. Nature carries His word through, even though it’s been thousands of years since He spoke it into action. 

We were made to operate the same way, and deep inside we know that. We feel disappointed when we don’t carry through with the dreams and visions God has given us. This only leaves one option: excuses are from the enemy. He sees the powerful difference for good we have if we follow through, so he tries to stop us. Therefore, if we are facing a barrage of excuses, we can be sure God is up to something good in us. They’re actual proof that something profitable lies on the other side. 

That’s the new beginning I can feel in my bones – a time to not let excuses win. To be like the rain, falling as God wills, come clouds, dust, evaporation. Because with Him, nothing is a failure, nothing returns without accomplishing what He has intended for it. May the same be said of me.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth no thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to th eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:9-11

The rain has come down heavy now, the mist blowing in on my face. It’s cool. It’s refreshing. It whispers the hope of new beginnings. 

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It's been awhile again, lovely people - how are you going? What have you been learning recently? How do you feel about the new year?