Let chips fall where they may

A New Year is about to come upon us. What will 2008 have for us as a nation? Will we be a positive world influence by turning back to the precepts that made our land an example of what a God-driven democracy can do for its own people? 2008 is an election year and candidates in a myriad of national, state and local offices will be doing their best to win your support and vote. Upon what are you going to base your backing of an individual? Perhaps you are truly dedicated to a political party and you'll take the easy way out and vote a straight ticket. Maybe you will consider the individual and where they stand on the issues of the day, be it economic, the war on terrorism, illegal immigration, personal morality or where they stand on the social issues that are such a perplexing dilemma in the minds of many.

Maybe you will think about the candidates' stand on the historical vision that our founding fathers espoused and each candidate's interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with its Bill of Rights? Does the candidate hold to the vision that we are a nation that will continue to trust in God? These, I believe, are things that must be seriously considered.

Let us not be pessimistic as we go into the New Year before us. It is easy to be caught up in a cynical frame of mind as is pointed out in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. Solomon wrote, "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Various other translations use words such as futile or vain regarding how empty and worthless life seems, having no positive results or outcome.

It is true that we need to feel satisfaction in life and not many things are more satisfying than being able to look back at your work and efforts with a sense of accomplishment. It is good to feel that you have spent your time profitably.

I, for one, have always wanted to be useful and have purpose. Yet, as we see from Solomon, the opposite is often true.

Sometimes it seems we are compelled to perform a dreary chain of duties which are only a repeat of all that has gone before.

Perhaps the Ancient Greeks had a better grasp of reality than modern man. Today we speak in terms of change and progress but the Greeks spoke in terms of cycles. Whether or not the Greeks were right about their cycles or we moderns right about change and progress, no one can deny that our lives tend to repeat themselves.

So what do we do? Do we look to the political candidates and parties with their promises to bring a little more meaning to our lives? Or do we continue to live as we have? Or maybe look to someone else to give lasting purpose? Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." I like the word that is used in the King James Version - "abundantly." Jesus' promise to us is that our lives can be filled with newness and abundance. Is this not something to seriously consider as we go into the New Year?

Friends, have a very happy and blessed 2008!

John J. Maatta

Chester