I thought this years message from Dr Rowan Williams was very good, and thought-provoking. I especially liked the quote I’ve used, partially, for the title of this post. God doesn’t do waste, he doesn’t regard anyone as a waste of space, and not worth his time. It’s a tremendous thought, that God values so highly the whole of the created world — including you and I!
In his annual televised New Year Message the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams reflects on how a ‘disposable’ attitude to living can affect other areas of life and that ‘God does not do waste’. Filmed in Canterbury Cathedral and at a nearby recycling centre.
On this, the first day of 2008, we cannot know what the year ahead holds for us. And perhaps that is for the best. For some of us the year will be a bad one. But for most of us, I’m sure, it will be good.
For myself, I’d like to see an improvement in my health — it has been difficult recently. It may not happen of course. But whatever the year ahead holds, I hope I can live it in the way that God wants me to; and I will continue to trust in him for the future as I step out in faith.
And perhaps that’s all any of us really need to hope for as we face the uncertainty of the coming year. We have a good model to follow in that, Abraham. He showed us the way to face the future: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). As we stand on the threshold of a new year, may we all have a faith like Abraham’s.
A New Year Collect
Eternal Lord God,
we give you thanks for bringing us through the changes of time
to the beginning of another year.
Forgive us the wrong we have done in the year that is past,
and help us to spend the rest of our days
to your honour and glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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