182 – New Beginnings

#FaithBites #FaithJourney Beginnings

8:00 A.M. on Monday, 32 students will enter the halls of our University, taking the first formal steps in their medical education. These students are excited, engaged, invested, anxious, nervous, compassionate, caring, competent, and curious. All of the faculty and staff who have been working on this endeavor for four years, share all of those qualities. None of us know where this journey will lead us. Who will surge to the front, who will trail behind, who will decide this isn’t the path for them, who will change the world? You may have thought I was talking about the students, well I am, but I am also talking about faculty, staff, and the families of these students. We are all embarking on a new life and possibly world-changing journey. Who knows what tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow will bring? I know that I will roll with excitement, the challenges, and the opportunities provided.

In all of our lives, we have chances for new beginnings. Every day we wake up, we can change our future. We can pray more, love more, care more, help more, and live more. While we don’t have to set out to change the world, we can set out to change our sphere of influence. Through our love, compassion, caring, understanding, and help, we make an impact. This change will flow through everyone we are connected to and those they are connected to. In that way, we can change the world.

Scripture on New Beginnings

“See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19

“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” – Job 8:7

Reflection

Now, I know the idea of being a new thing every day is exciting and scaring. Your choices can and do impact everyone around you: Chose to be down or worried or scared, then others will feel that. Chose to be loving, caring, and empathetic and you will get that in return. You may feel you are lost and wandering, but you will be prosperous in those dark and scary places. Through those actions, your prosperity and generosity will be great and world-changing. It all starts with but one choice, one decision to change the world. You may stumble and it won’t be easy, but nothing in life worth having is easy.

These students, families, friends, faculty, staff, and loved ones are making a decision to change their direction. They have a new beginning. What is your new beginning? How do you choose to spend the days of your lives?

Charge

First, pick one thing to change today to start your new beginning. Then, share that choice with a friend or family member. Use that change to part of your new beginning. Finally, record your progress and share.

Are you willing to trust the Lord will be with you in your new beginning?

I am willing with the help of the Lord.