Healing Rays of Righteousness

Former President Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine.  But before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, who is considered to be the father of the nuclear navy.

Jimmy Carter says that the interview made him very nervous; knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious role.  As he stood before Admiral Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about nearly every subject discussed than he did.

Finally, Rickover came to the last question on his list – “Where did you finish in your class, young man?”  Please with his accomplishments and thrilled to finally be presented a question he was sure of, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59^th out of a student body numbering 820.  Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor – but it never came.

In telling the story later, Jimmy Carter said that the question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?”  Carter thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.”  At that point, Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”

That is a good question to ask ourselves at the beginning of a new year.  How do we evaluate what we have done during the past year?  Would we say it was poor, so-so, adequate, good, very good, or outstanding?

In the past year, have we always done our best?  Probably not.  And if not, why not?  Have any of our conversations and actions caused unnecessary pain.  Probably so.  If so, why?

The beginning of a new year offers us a time to reflect on our past, regret our mistakes, contemplate the future, and make resolutions.  I believe that most people, including me, want to do and be better in the New Year.

Many years ago, Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, wrote a perceptive poem entitled, “The Land of Beginning Again.”  It begins and ends with a verse which is almost a universal wish.

I wish there were some wonderful place

Called the land of beginning again

Where all our mistakes,

And all our heartaches,

And all of our poor selfish grief,

Could be dropped like a shabby

Old coat at the door,

And never be put on again.

There seems to always be something about the past that often troubles us, even if it is nothing more than the nagging belief that we could do better if we had another go at it.

Mistakes and regrets of the past can and often do become heavy emotional baggage for many people.  The baggage is real and cannot be easily waved aside, for it is the consequence of mistaken judgments and unwise decisions that have left scars, and sometimes, painful open wounds in our relationships.

However, the Bible is filled with the possibility of forgiveness and new beginnings.  This is God’s good news to us.  The angel’s message to the shepherds is forever new.  “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today … a Savior has been born to you.”

Whatever mistakes and regrets that may still be lying out there in our past, whatever relationships remain painfully wounded and in need of healing, God’s “Savior Jesus” can help us gather them all into a prayer of repentance, forgiveness, and new beginnings.  The ability to forgive and to be forgiven is always ours for the asking.  Jesus himself invites us to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).

Instead of fretting over the past, take hold of forgiveness, and move forward through God’s open door of a new year and a new beginning toward more Christ-like excellence in all of our conversations and activities.

I hope you will join me in making the decision and effort to walk into the new year of 2020 with a new commitment to be the person God created us to be.  And may all your days be happy and blessed.  Amen!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 1, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley