The two faces of New Year's Day, 2010

No, not two faces as in “two-faced” or hypocritical; but the two faces that represent looking back at the past and forward to the future. This is appropriate today because the month of January is named for the Greek god, Janus. Remember his picture? His head has two faces, one turned backward and the other forward; hence, his symbolism for our personal past and future, both of which we “face” today.

How are we doing with it? It’s early, of course; still morning for some; noon for others; maybe nightfall for still others. A few may have just gotten into bed to read the newspaper before falling asleep (if so, good luck with that!) Hopefully, though, before the day is completely over, we will evaluate some of our past and make some preparation for our future before we run into more future than we can handle ... and before our past catches up to us.

Traditionally, making New Year’s resolutions has helped with this; well, maybe with the future, but what resolutions can be made about the past? Besides, if we make resolutions for the future without addressing the past, unresolved past issues could emerge to prevent us from making the right ones; or, if we have made the right ones, the unresolved past may emerge to sabotage our keeping them. There is a better way.

The Apostle Paul, with an honesty that challenges anyone’s “absolute certainty,” said: “My friends, I do not feel that I have already arrived. But this one thing I can do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Paul experienced a “maturity” in forgetting that is not amnesia, denial, or even avoidance of the past (see his next verse). It is the making peace with it that allows us enough resolution to “press on.” Thankfully, he admits to not having “arrived” at it perfectly himself. We can be at peace about that, too; hopefully, all year long.