New Year’s eve always reminds me of the the parties that I would have at the bar.  I was pretty selective as to who would be invited.  I kept out the trouble-makers.  At nine o’clock, the front door would be adjusted to open only from the inside.  No one could get in after the door was closed.  Food and liquor  was provided as a package deal.  .  . as much as your wanted.  People would feast on the food and the beer. . .and whatever else they were inclined to do to make their New Year happy.  I was inclined to snort cocaine for the first time;  but it wasn’t the last.

At midnight we would play the traditional New Year’s Eve song, “Auld Lang Syne.”  Everyone would  have their party hats on, blowing horns and shaking noise makers, throwing streamers, kissing every one and celebrating the new year.

        “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought mind?  Should old acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne.” 

This song is also played at funerals, graduations and endings to certain occasions.  It’s a farewell to the old year and a reminder to stay close to those who you love and who love you.  It’s a hello to the new year and the prospects of the happiness that hopefully awaits you.  For me it was a funeral song, a graduation into more serious insanity and a farewell to the remaining sensibilities that I had.   .   . All the silly little sheep of His flock have their own stories to tell.  Who knew then, that it was all meant to be?

        “And surely you’ll buy your pint cup, and surely Ill buy mine;  and we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.” 

When I think about the thousands of pint cups that I drank with others, it sort of warms my heart.  I have memories of having fun, feeling close to others while the partying went on, but not knowing that death to my soul was eminent.  Little Lily is getting teary-eyed.  She knows the feeling.  “It’s such a mystery,” she said.  “Who knew what was secretly going on in my own heart?  It was dying and I didn’t know it.”  The Newbie Dumbo sheep nodded.  “Who knew that a cup of Kindness was on its way?” she said, and her tears began to flow.   .   .and Life began to flow, for where the River flows, everything shall Live.

       “We two have run about the slopes and picked the daisies fine; but we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.” 

The eagles are remembering their lives in the old year. . .and in all their old years.  Who knew that every moment of it, regardless of what was happening. . .every atomic second of it was simply a new page in each new day, from God’s Book of Life, written in its entirety, before time began?  Every thing, in every way, shape and form. . .all coming into existence, all coming solely as a result of His labor, His work, His plan.  “Thy will be done. . .Thy will, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”  It’s that cup of Kindness from Him that the eagles have seen, and it makes them fly into the Rainbow of the Colors of His Love, where they can eat and drink all that they want. . .and it’s all free.

       “We two have paddled in the stream from morning sun till dinner time;  but seas between us broad have roared, since auld lang sine.” 

I have swam in that troubled stream my whole life.  .  . dog paddling to stay alive, to keep from drowning.  The storms in the seas have roared in my soul and have  nearly frightened me to death.  And like the “Footsteps in the Sand” picture where the little lamb was carried by His Savior every step of the way, He was paddling with me on His back, always holding tightly, never letting me go and carrying me every stroke of the way.

       “When you walk through the waters, I will be with you. . .and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fires of life, you will not be burned.  The flames will not set you ablaze.  The fire will only burn off what troubles your soul.”  Isaiah 43:1-2 

Sweet little Lily is crying. . .tears of Joy and Happiness.  She knows it’s true.  She has drank from His cup of Kindness.  He drank all the poison of life that was in the cup before He gave it to her to drink.  All that was left was His Wine of Love to her.  She is intoxicated from it.

       “And there’s a hand, my trusty friend and give us a hand of thine;  and we’ll take a right, good will of draught,  for auld lang syne.” 

Those big ears on the Dumbo sheep are wide open and ready to carry them up to where the eagles fly.  His words to them are the breath of His Spirit and the Divine Wind carries them above the earth. . .free of their earthly life.  Free in the moment. So Good in the Moment.

       “So do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not be distressed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and I will help you.  I will uphold you and carry you with My Divine right hand. . .when you fall in the New Year, you will not be hurled head-long because I am the One Who holds your hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

      A New Day.  The Day of God’s Power.     A Day of Forgiveness.  A Day for Hope.  The Day of New Life.