New Year’s Thought

I bought a devotional that was collected from some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer last year, and really enjoyed the daily readings in 2018. On Wednesday, the entry was titled The Next Step and had to do with the anxiety that comes from doing things with “good intentions”. Bonhoeffer insists that human attempts start over and do good and reinvent themselves was simply a byproduct of anxiety and fear and is a way that evil attempts to trap us.

Even such “good intentions” are often ruled by anxiety and it becomes impossible to ever make a new beginning. Obviously, this writing is presented here to be associated with and to think about the idea of New Years’ resolutions and very human attempts to “be better” that eventually fall flat.

Bonhoeffer suggests a different approach — not looking forward or backward with anxiety and worry. He insists that a Christian is not meant to do this, not meant to anxiously try to “do better.” We are not meant to be afraid for the future or feel guilt about the past.

Dietrich concludes with a challenge and a solution:

“One who guides a plow does not look back — or into the immense distance — but to the next step that must be taken. Backward glances are not a Christian thing to. Leave fear, anxiety, and guilt behind. And look to the one who gives you a new beginning.”

I felt like those final words were something that a lot of people needed to hear. Maybe it is more about your personal life or inner thoughts. Or, maybe things happened that you wish hadn’t, or things were said that you want to take back.

But don’t look back; don’t rehearse what has already been forgiven and buried. Instead, “look to the One who gives you a new beginning.”