“NEW YEAR”

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 1, 1 February 1947, Page 1

“NEW YEAR”

\\ hen tins issue reaches out readers, 1947 will be well on it* way. Not ton tar, however, for our good wishes to eonte along with it. Io one and all, wt send greetings, and hope that they may find ‘‘all the best” in happy, healthful life and service, during the year ahead < )f nothing is it easier to write endless platitudes, than of New 't car. Ever since, as children, we pn//.led our little hrains to know what this thing that people said to each other as they sh<x>k hands, smiling with extra kindliness, eould really mean; we have heard the tine ideas expressed. A new beginning; .i time for making good resolutions; a good place for re-planmng work and a. * i .ity; such arc the thoughts wt liabitiia.ll v hear, and teel within ourselves, at this time. Are they not very old ami stale? Should we have not gone a stage further than this? Surely, it is not net* t'sarv for us to keep on making this ‘‘fresh start”. All this was done when we were children; and we are further on our way by now All very well, to talk in this strain. Notwithstanding, the eye ot exper ice < i es across the years liehind, something of beauty and joy in those New Neat aspirations. Always a Ir>|k* lor something finer ami better in the tuture lit up the passing of the old into the new. I low sure we were that we were going to make something good ot the opjiortunities which to come. And though, in this I tack ward glancing, we see how tar liort of the dream the reality always was; we cannot but feel that it was all •to the good that the dream was there.

And here at the beginning ot I'M/, mere is an almost unbearable delight in having all the promise, all the veiled suggestion of unknown possibilities, once again as our jtossession. I ast disappointment, failure, sadness and suffering*, arc powerless to quell the strange deep sense oi unexplored regions of the* spirit of experiences Ixvond all we have yet known; of vision clearer through past pain; and of something which “passeth understanding” VVe all have it. Thank* God for it It is a gift of his own hand, to lead and inspire even in the days of darkness So mere dream or fancy, but a i*o»i bility, is at the* heart of tins strong upsurging of hop for coming days. In its warmth and sweetness, our love and faith are strengthened even now as wt stand "at the |»ortal Of the ojietiing year.'