In Between Days

 

These days seem to me each year to be “in between days”. Between the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year. Between one year and the next. Between what was and what will be. As do those daily moments between night and morning, they have a different feel. Time seems to flow differently. There is still much to be done, of course, deadlines and reports and wrapping up. But our minds seem to be in a slightly different mode. We are divided between looking back and looking forward.

When I was a boy, our church helped us out in this transition with a youth event on New Years Eve. There weren’t many places to go where we lived. We would gather at the church. There were lots of snacks and food and games and fun. We would sing a little and play a little and eat a little. As midnight drew near, we would gather and have a prayer for the New Year. We prayed for health and growth and to be faithful in the months ahead. We celebrated that each of us had a new beginning, that this could be a “do over” of sorts. We could leave the past in the past and choose a different path and make different choices. I always enjoyed that night.

I suppose that is why this week of “in between” still gives me pause for reflection as I make the transition into what will be. We never outgrow the need for a “do over” now and then. We never outgrow the need to celebrate what has been. We never outgrow the need to look forward to new possibilities and be hopeful about the future. These “in between” days are a gift. Let us embrace them and make the most of a new beginning.

Peace.