On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7: 37-38 NRSV)
Usually, when we say “The Last Day,” we are thinking about the very last day, the end of time.
However, Jesus’ comment was on the last day of the Jewish festival of Booths, a festival which commemorated the wilderness wanderings of the Jews.
I thought of this, however, because this Sunday is the last day of this year.
There is something sad and fulfilling about “last days.” We have completed another circle around the sun; we have survived hurricanes, wildfires and terrorism; we have grown older, hopefully wiser, and here we are today, on the last day of 2017.
I am not quick to say that Christmas is over; I maintain aloud, every year, that Christmas is never over. The year, however, is dying on this day. It has been a long year in some ways, but in other ways, it has passed amazingly quickly.
Tomorrow is a new beginning! All of our New Year’s resolutions are still fresh, still firmly in place, and we are still ready to do better than we did last year.
As another date shows up on the calendar, I am acutely aware that, like the year, I am getting older, moving on toward my own “last day.” It is sobering to know that somewhere out there I will see that day.
So, on this last day of 2017, I resolve to be better, stronger, more forgiving, patient and loving.
Happy New Year, and God bless!