So wrote Frederick Buechner in his 1966 work The Magnificent Defeat. And while his words apply to any beginning, Buechner penned them in the context of the Christmas season where the temptation is to linger in the seasonal warmth of peace and joy. But what did he mean, “Bethlehem is not the end of our journey”? Buechner sheds light on that. “Home . . . for us is not the manger where the light is gentle and God is a child. . . . We must also depart into our own country again, where peace is not found in escape from the battle but in the very heat of the battle.” If we’re honest about the vast number of unknowns in store for each of us, the very first words of Scripture have the power to steady us. “In the beginning God . . .” (Genesis 1:1). Even before anything had been formed, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (v. 2). That’s the timeless nature of God’s truth. He was before all things—everything. And He continues to go before us in all things. He’s there whether we acknowledge it or not, but why wouldn’t we? If we’re serious about following His ways and will, we’ll both remember and cling to that truth as we enter a new year of our life’s uncertain journey. As you journey on, remember, God’s already there. He’s been there from the beginning.
