It’s A New Beginning – 2020

Happy New Year to you! Does it seem to you that a new year comes faster each year? It does to me. I do believe our lives are lived at a faster pace than when I was growing up. Regardless, we wish you a very Happy 2020, filled with God’s best for you! And, a Happy Birthday to our youngest grandson as he begins his teenage years!

We’ve taken down our Christmas tree and stored it, along with bins of ornaments and decorations I put out around the house each year. It’ll be another 11 months until we bring everything out again to display. Now we look forward with anticipation to new beginnings in this New Year. I trust you will see some of your dreams and desires manifested and enjoyed in 2020.

This short story gives a good perspective and wisdom to follow in a New Year. We hope you enjoy the story and this new month and new year! Blessings!

I woke up, slowly, my mind unable to grasp the earliness of the morning, or was it morning? I wasn’t sure but I couldn’t figure out why my shoes had sand in them. Was I awake or dreaming?

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The sand glistened in the summer heat as waves pounded the shore. My eyes caught a quick flash above the breaking waves and I blinked, squinted, and then glanced away for a moment. When I refocused I watched a seagull swoop low and proceed to climb high above the crashing waves and engineer a splash-free landing in the water not more than twenty feet in front of me. He waited only a second before taking flight again, this time heading directly toward me. I turned to avoid being hit by the large seagull and jumped when he landed just three feet away.

“That was beautiful,” I said, not realizing I’d spoken out loud.

“Thank you,” he replied nodding his head.

“Are you Jonathan Livingston Seagull?” I asked not realizing I’d actually asked a seagull a question.

He ruffled his feathers and answered, “No, but I am one of his students.”

“You’ve learned well.”

“I’m still learning,” he responded, as he glanced at my notebook. “Perhaps you have a question.”

It surely didn’t seem like I was dreaming. He was standing right there in front of me….a real live seagull and he was talking to me.

“Uh, well, yes, as a matter of fact, I do,” I stammered but grabbed my pen and paper. “Please tell me, what is the most important thing you’ve learned as an, umm, more progressive thinking seagull.”

He thought for a minute before answering. “You must understand that this applies to seagulls and humans as well. It is not the daily activities that fill your life, but rather being in constant contact with your Creator, your Teacher—that is the answer. You must have the same passion your Creator has in all that you do, no matter what it is.”

My pen scribbled across the page, quickly filling the sheet with his wisdom. These were indeed words to remember. I scribbled faster.

“If you don’t continue learning, you’ll constantly face the same limitations you’ve always had. Just as a seagull is not mere bone and feathers, neither are you simply bone, muscle, and skin. You are so much more, and it is imperative that you learn and grow. And don’t forget to walk in the Creator’s love and grace.

“This country—from the north to the south, from east to west—was built on hard work, determination, perseverance, faith, and love. Without those principles operating in your everyday life, you will fail to be inspired for greater work. It is only when you cooperate with the presence of your Creator that you will understand His limitlessness in you. Release your inabilities and embrace His abilities. Then, you will move forward in making this year and this country even greater.

“And always remember,” he said stretching his wings, “to let love and forgiveness be your cornerstones. Now, I must go.” He flapped his large wings and lifted easily into flight. “Tell others. These principles are handed down from the founding fathers that helped make this country great. Embrace your Creator just as they did, and you will soar in the heavens as I do.”

And with that, he flew away. I stared as he climbed higher and higher, soon blending into the vast blue endless sky.

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I shook the sand from my shoes. Maybe I wasn’t dreaming. After all, this is a New Year in America, the land of dreams and opportunities.