2021: Turning the Page to Success

By MAP Environmental Inc. | January 18, 2021

In 1973, American singer, songwriter and musician Bob Seger was heard belting out “Turn the page”.  As a teenager in the 70s, I loved that song but admittedly was clueless as to its meaning.  Nearly fifty years later, after a year and global pandemic like no other, we can all relate to this tune.  Indeed, we have already drop kicked 2020, put it in the rearview mirror and followed the lead from Seger. 

 

OK, but here is the challenge – exactly what and where do we turn the page to? Well, don’t we typically ponder over our new year’s resolutions, list our dreams and goals, or consider a possible success story in the coming year?  After an epically challenging year, what is your plan, dream, or goal, and where do you begin?  

 

For starters, how about the story of Jesus Christ and the world’s most read book – the Bible?  Sure, take the greatest storyteller and book and you will find some of the greatest parables.  Consider the story of Apostle Paul who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first century, including important biblical passages of love.  In 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, Paul proclaims “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.  So, faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

 

Wow, what an incredibly powerful passage – as important and effective today as it was 2,000 years ago!  Given the tumultuous year of the pandemic, isn’t it time to turn the page and change our thinking, viewing, and practicing through the lens of love? It sounds simple enough but how do we relate these to our own lives and experiences, much less practice them in the new year?  What if we were to commit or recommit ourselves to acts of charity – feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving alms to the poor, caring for the sick, and comforting the sorrowful.  Even the Book of Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.”  

 

Think about it – how might our lives change in 2021 through acts of love and charity?  Perhaps we could unite instead of divide, praise instead of criticize, embrace rather than distance, love instead of hate, and count rather than ignore blessings.

 

As we navigate this year, let us all strive to strengthen our relationships with our spouses, families, and circle of friends – and keep God in the center of our lives, embrace love, and then write about the stories that follow.  I bet each of us would achieve greater clarity, discover more peace, joy, and happiness, and experience far more success this year.   

 

Go ahead, isn’t it time to place God in your daily lives, embrace love, and write your own success story this year? And while you are doing so, let us all remember to keep turning the page.