Dear Friends,

As we enter a new year, it’s interesting to note that the first month, January, was named after the Roman ‘god’, Janus, who was thought to be the ‘god of beginnings and endings’. Janus was depicted as having two heads, one looking forward and the other looking back, so was the obvious choice for the first month of the year when people have always tended to look back over the previous year, usually with a mixture of fond memories, sadnesses and, perhaps, regrets, and forward, in anticipation of what the year ahead may bring.

Robert Burns, in his poem ‘To a Mouse’, saw the ability to think back, and forward in time as something of a curse:

‘But Och! I backward cast my e’e, On prospects drear! An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!’

It seems to me that Burns was taking a somewhat pessimistic view. Yes, we can look back and dwell on bad times, or look forward fearfully to the future, but we can also look back on the good times, experiencing their joy again, and forward in anticipation to similar times of happiness. When we look forward in time from the firm foundation of faith in the Lord, we have the assurances in scripture that God is watching over us,

‘For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

As we move into the New Year, we can do so full of confidence that One far greater than you or I has everything under control. Max Ehrmann clearly expressed this view in his poem ‘Desiderata’:

‘whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.’

Without faith, it would be easy to look at the state of the world today, with its gross inequalities, wars, environmental damage and despair, but, as the Apostle Paul assures us,

‘We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)

I have no idea what 2026 will bring for you, for me or for anyone, and that is as it should be. I am confident, however, that whatever it brings, good or bad, the Lord will be with us, rejoicing and comforting appropriately, as we need Him. God is, indeed, worthy of all our confidence, praise and worship.

Many blessings for 2026 and beyond,

Carl