New Year's Day 2016/Holy Name

I did something I don’t think I have ever done in my entire life: after a very fine supper out with friends and a nice drive around town to look at fireworks, I went home…and went to bed fairly early on New Year’s Eve. And… I woke up early this morning. I woke up to a beautiful New Year’s morning! It was an amazing experience—waking up early on New Year’s Day. With no alcohol and definitely no hang-over, I greeted 2016 with a clear mind—an open mind. This is the real way to begin the year on a very positive note.

I don’t now why I have never done this before. I don’t know why I’ve never heard anyone share this little bit of simple wonderfulness before. I have always been at a loss at how to begin the New Year in a proper way. I have hosted parties. I have went out on the town.

And here I am, at 46, just starting to figure it out. Two years vegan. Not a drop of alcohol for eight months (eight months today). I have never felt this healthy and this clear-headed before in my life.

I have no idea what 2016 is going to hold for me, but I can say I am greeting the right way for me.

Of course, today is also the feast of the Holy Name, which is also has been

one of my favorite feasts.

I found two wonderful little prayers from the New Zealand Prayer Book that really sum up the beauty of this day:

God of time and eternity, as we enter this new year day by day open us to your new age.

Eternal God, to whom a thousand years are no more than a moment; renew us in your Holy Spirit so that we may serve with courage while we have life and breath; through the grace of Jesus your Son.