Beginnings and Endings

For many families, last week was dominated by the start of a new school year. On social media we’ve seen cute pictures of little children about to start primary school, and eleven-year-olds looking ‘grown up’ starting high school. Younger teenagers are starting school exam courses; older teenagers are starting college life or returning to university.  

I’ve chatted to teachers about the start of their school year. It’s a good time of opportunity, potential and hope… a time of new beginnings.

At Laurence and Andrea’s lovely wedding we remembered that they’ve both been through tough stuff, experienced and survived significant problems. We reflected on their individual faith that has given them purpose and direction.

We learnt about their increasing togetherness over the past four years that brought them to Saturday. Making public promises, to each other, before their God was about new beginnings, but it was more than that. It was a ‘till-death-us-do-part’ long term statement of intent. Beginnings can be for life.

ast night I went to ‘New Words, Fresh Voices’, where local writers, presented original poems, songs, short stories. The suggested theme was ‘Autumn’. We alluded to, then listened to ‘Autumn Leaves’:  

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Autumn’s about endings. For spring’s beginnings there must be autumn’s endings; new school years start because old ones have finished; new marriages end an old way of living. Endings often come before beginnings.

This weekend I’ve chatted to folks facing log-term illnesses with no easy fix… mental-health conditions bringing anxiety and depression… employment concerns, family uncertainty…

One January, several years ago, I was going through a dark time. In positive conversations about new beginnings we were asked to write new year’s resolutions. All I could manage was ‘One day at a time, sweet Jesus’.

Today my prayer is for those facing uncertainty… hoping for survival… for whom beginning and ending today is an achievement.