In some traditions, it’s appropriate to bow before someone as a sign of respect, honor and humility. In the spirit of a student with a beginner’s mind, even though we have traveled around the Sun many times before, let us bow to the last year with all it’s hardships, and all that it taught us, and let us bow to this new year and all that it will teach us.
Jesus bowed. He knelt in front of his disciples and washed their feet as an act of humility, kindness and love. Jesus could humble himself before his disciples because He knew that God had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, and that He was going to return to God.
Because Jesus knew himself, and was grounded in Love, He was secure to lay aside His ego, and class expectations, and serve his disciples. He said that He did this as an example for us to follow in serving one another with Love as we have been shown (John 13).
We look to Jesus for our posture this year. We look to Jesus for the attitude of our hearts. We keep our inner gaze focused in His direction, being sensitive to the nudging of the Spirit as we arrive at each new day with a beginner’s mind that is open for a multitude of possibilities.
Holy comforter and knower of all things, rest upon this future of mine. Be in the details before I’m even aware they exist. Settle me into my identity in You this year. May I know Love in profound ways, and give me courage to demonstrate the same to everyone around me. Let it be done, and let it be so. Amen.