First, my father is a shining example of how to keep going during difficult times. He cultivates a positive attitude by getting up early every morning, greeting the morning sun and thanking God for the blessings of a new day. He grew up during the depression, served in WWII and the Korean War, became a widower with two young children, entrepreneur and industry leader, and is now retired. He is a shining example of how to survive and thrive through difficult times, maximizing strengths without whining or complaining. He lives the Dale Carnegie maxim: ‘‘Do not criticize, condemn, or complain” and his own maxim ‘‘Thank the Good Lord for his blessings every day – don’t worry about what you don’t have, love what you do have.” Faith, family and long-time friends have surrounded his rich life. How he lives his life, caring for others around him, has always been a warm example to me.

Second, I look to the historic hymns of the Christian Church. I grew up in a musical family. My father played trumpet in a swing band, my sister and I both sing and play piano. My favorite memories growing up were those of singing hymns either in a choir or standing with my family. I love music, both vocal and instrumental. ‘‘Count Your Blessings” is a hymn by the famous Gospel minister, Rev. Johnson Oatman Jr. I have heard that during the great Welsh revival it was one of the hymns sung at every service. This is one of my favorite hymns and has become a regular spiritual practice for me, particularly through difficult times. In the hymn (without repeating the entire hymn here) all are encouraged to count your blessings through many circumstances of life:

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

A third practice that helps me in keeping an eternal perspective is prayer and Scripture reading. In the Jewish tradition, the new year (celebrated in the fall) marks a time not of resolutions, but of repentance and cleansing for 10 days followed by the day of atonement in which the Jewish high priest enters the most sacred place and sprinkles blood upon the altar so that God forgives the sins of all the people for that year. The Jewish New Year is marked by an acknowledgement of sin, confession of hurts, and emphasizes our dependence upon God and God’s dependence upon us as the ones who make his presence known and felt in his world. God’s Kingship is acknowledged and renewed afresh during the Jewish New Year celebration.

Appropriating concepts found in the Jewish New Year into my own practice I often pray and journal some special New Year’s thoughts and encouragements to myself that I can look back upon to use as a guide for this year. Sometimes I journal alone, but often my wife and I will sit down together to read and pray. On an almost daily basis through the year, when we are apart or I am deployed, we follow the same devotional reading schedule and e-mail our thoughts and impressions to each other. I am constantly amazed and how God works to develop both my wife and me through not only his word, but also through the gift of sharing his word in marriage (I know singleness is also a gift, for those who have that gift). I often read the Psalms out loud, praying them to God so that they resonate through my voice and back into my mind through my ears so that my eyes, mind, lungs, heart, indeed every aspect of my soul and body are involved in praying the Psalms. If I am overwhelmed with the cares of others, or even my own cares, I bring them to the Lord in prayer and God is always there.

Looking forward to a shiny New Year, I pray for each and every one of you. I hope that seeking forgiveness, starting fresh, receiving guidance from the Lord in prayer, Psalms, songs, family and faith will encourage you throughout this year.