New Year's Day Message
New Year’s Day 2010
Today marks the beginning of a new year. Traditionally, New Year’s Day is a time when we conduct
a mental review of the past and take a look ahead at what we would like different in the future.
Before we travel down memory lane for 2009, let’s remember a very important teaching from the
Course. There are two voices in our mind that guide our thoughts and pass judgment; the ego and
the Holy Spirit. If we would like to find peace and happiness it would behoove us to realize that the
one who is guiding our year-in-review is usually the ego! Before I became a student of the Course
and learned there was another Voice other than the ego to guide my thoughts, I judged my year
based on things of this world. Was I successful at my job? Were my kids healthy? Was my
relationship stable? What had I accomplished? What gains had I made in terms of money, my career
or my relationships? I then would begin the judgment of myself. Did I do enough? Say the right
things? Make poor choices? Afterwards I was left with a mix of emotions; a bit sad, lonely or maybe
confused; inadequate, unworthy, fearful or worried. My thoughts would involve beliefs of lack,
failure, blame or anger. All-in-all, even if there were good times or happy thoughts, they were
interlaced with these ideas. As I began to immerse myself in the Course and listen more clearly to
the Holy Spirit, my year-in-review began to change and the outcome was radically different. This
year why don’t we give the ego a day off and let the Holy Spirit be in charge of our year-in-review?
Let’s explore what a year-in-review would look like through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has only one purpose in mind when instructing, reinterpreting and guiding us; to
realize and accept our True Identity as the Christ, the holy Son of God. Therefore a year-in-review
with the Holy Spirit as our Guide becomes a review on how we spent our time, not pursuing worldly
goals, but rather coming closer to our spiritual goal; to wake up to the truth of What we really are
and to see our brothers as sinless. He has us look on the past year from a different point of view
and with reflective questions that help us become aware of just how “successful” our use of time can
be when in the pursuit of our True Self. Here are a few questions that I have been guided to ask
myself over the years. As you read each question, take a moment to answer it by bringing to mind a
time when this indeed did happen.
During this past year did you offer a troubling situation to the Holy Spirit to be used as an
opportunity to heal your mind of false beliefs? When you had an experience of fear did you turn to
Him for help instead of trying to rearrange your external world? In 2009 did you encounter a
'stranger' and smile, sending a message of love and acceptance? Was there a time when you were
willing to hear a call for help instead of someone's sharp words to you, and respond in love instead
of attack? Were there moments spent in quiet and stillness when you reached the light within your
own mind and brought this with you into your day? Was there a time when you experienced the
'hurtful actions' of someone and found the willingness to see it differently? Was there a morning
when you devoted five minutes to think of God and allow your heart to open? At any time
throughout the year did you feel gratitude toward another for saying just the right words to help you
or for offering their silent presence which comforted you?
Wouldn’t you agree that a year-in-review is seen differently when looked at through spiritual eyes? It
leaves you with a sense of hope, an idea of your true purpose and an awareness that time spent
doing more of this will fill your days with peace. Saying “yes” to any one of the questions is a step
closer to recognizing your True Identity and seeing your brother sinless. Therefore, if you only
answered “yes” to one, you can claim, “My, 2009 was a good year!”
What about the year ahead? On this New Year’s Day, we can let Him decide what resolutions to
make for the upcoming year. You might ask: “What would be most helpful in releasing false beliefs
and learning of my True Self?” “Whom would you like me to meet who would help in the healing of
my mind or who would serve as Your messengers to guide me?” “Where would You like me to go or
what would You have me do that would serve Your plan?” These questions help focus your mind on
the one goal worth pursuing and puts the Holy Spirit in charge of the year ahead.
The following quote is often used by Course students at the beginning of a new year to restate and
reinforce the goal of our time while in a body. "So will the year begin in joy and freedom. There is
much to do, and we have been long delayed. Accept the holy instant as this year is born, and take
your place, so long left unfulfilled, in the Great Awakening." (T.15.XI.10:8-10)
As this year begins anew, will you take your place in the Great Awakening? Is there one step you
can take, one resolution you can make toward this? Spend a moment with the Holy Spirit and write
out a New Year’s resolution. Begin by making this pledge; “Be You in charge, for I would follow You,
Certain that Your direction gives me peace.” (W.#361) Let Him set the course for you this year. He
is a trusting Friend Who's gentle guidance will lead you to perfect happiness and peace.
Written by: Patti Fields pattifields.com
Today marks the beginning of a new year. Traditionally, New Year’s Day is a time when we conduct
a mental review of the past and take a look ahead at what we would like different in the future.
Before we travel down memory lane for 2009, let’s remember a very important teaching from the
Course. There are two voices in our mind that guide our thoughts and pass judgment; the ego and
the Holy Spirit. If we would like to find peace and happiness it would behoove us to realize that the
one who is guiding our year-in-review is usually the ego! Before I became a student of the Course
and learned there was another Voice other than the ego to guide my thoughts, I judged my year
based on things of this world. Was I successful at my job? Were my kids healthy? Was my
relationship stable? What had I accomplished? What gains had I made in terms of money, my career
or my relationships? I then would begin the judgment of myself. Did I do enough? Say the right
things? Make poor choices? Afterwards I was left with a mix of emotions; a bit sad, lonely or maybe
confused; inadequate, unworthy, fearful or worried. My thoughts would involve beliefs of lack,
failure, blame or anger. All-in-all, even if there were good times or happy thoughts, they were
interlaced with these ideas. As I began to immerse myself in the Course and listen more clearly to
the Holy Spirit, my year-in-review began to change and the outcome was radically different. This
year why don’t we give the ego a day off and let the Holy Spirit be in charge of our year-in-review?
Let’s explore what a year-in-review would look like through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has only one purpose in mind when instructing, reinterpreting and guiding us; to
realize and accept our True Identity as the Christ, the holy Son of God. Therefore a year-in-review
with the Holy Spirit as our Guide becomes a review on how we spent our time, not pursuing worldly
goals, but rather coming closer to our spiritual goal; to wake up to the truth of What we really are
and to see our brothers as sinless. He has us look on the past year from a different point of view
and with reflective questions that help us become aware of just how “successful” our use of time can
be when in the pursuit of our True Self. Here are a few questions that I have been guided to ask
myself over the years. As you read each question, take a moment to answer it by bringing to mind a
time when this indeed did happen.
During this past year did you offer a troubling situation to the Holy Spirit to be used as an
opportunity to heal your mind of false beliefs? When you had an experience of fear did you turn to
Him for help instead of trying to rearrange your external world? In 2009 did you encounter a
'stranger' and smile, sending a message of love and acceptance? Was there a time when you were
willing to hear a call for help instead of someone's sharp words to you, and respond in love instead
of attack? Were there moments spent in quiet and stillness when you reached the light within your
own mind and brought this with you into your day? Was there a time when you experienced the
'hurtful actions' of someone and found the willingness to see it differently? Was there a morning
when you devoted five minutes to think of God and allow your heart to open? At any time
throughout the year did you feel gratitude toward another for saying just the right words to help you
or for offering their silent presence which comforted you?
Wouldn’t you agree that a year-in-review is seen differently when looked at through spiritual eyes? It
leaves you with a sense of hope, an idea of your true purpose and an awareness that time spent
doing more of this will fill your days with peace. Saying “yes” to any one of the questions is a step
closer to recognizing your True Identity and seeing your brother sinless. Therefore, if you only
answered “yes” to one, you can claim, “My, 2009 was a good year!”
What about the year ahead? On this New Year’s Day, we can let Him decide what resolutions to
make for the upcoming year. You might ask: “What would be most helpful in releasing false beliefs
and learning of my True Self?” “Whom would you like me to meet who would help in the healing of
my mind or who would serve as Your messengers to guide me?” “Where would You like me to go or
what would You have me do that would serve Your plan?” These questions help focus your mind on
the one goal worth pursuing and puts the Holy Spirit in charge of the year ahead.
The following quote is often used by Course students at the beginning of a new year to restate and
reinforce the goal of our time while in a body. "So will the year begin in joy and freedom. There is
much to do, and we have been long delayed. Accept the holy instant as this year is born, and take
your place, so long left unfulfilled, in the Great Awakening." (T.15.XI.10:8-10)
As this year begins anew, will you take your place in the Great Awakening? Is there one step you
can take, one resolution you can make toward this? Spend a moment with the Holy Spirit and write
out a New Year’s resolution. Begin by making this pledge; “Be You in charge, for I would follow You,
Certain that Your direction gives me peace.” (W.#361) Let Him set the course for you this year. He
is a trusting Friend Who's gentle guidance will lead you to perfect happiness and peace.
Written by: Patti Fields pattifields.com
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