Every morning when I first wake-up, I take a few moments under the covers to set my day aright.  I lie there under the weight of the sheets and blankets orienting myself to date, day and the scheduled activities therein.  I gauge the state of myself physically and emotionally, and when I feel prepared, a prospect which takes longer than others some mornings, I throw back the covers and emerge into the freshness of a day, as yet unpainted by any efforts I will make.

      My first activity will be the shower where I will clean myself physically and spiritually.  Those who know me know that some of my best praying goes on in the steamy confines behind my shower curtain.  Uninterrupted, undistracted and physically mimicking the state which I seek to obtain from my Lord, God and I commune on things big and small.  Sometimes talking, often listening, and occasionally even singing, I make myself pleasing to those around me by cleaning away the gunk of the former day.  Before I am finally prepared, I will slather myself in lotion, a small indulgence, and emerge from the bathroom armed and ready to face the darts of the world.

 As so much preparation goes into facing twenty-four brief hours, it seems no small stretch to make some preparation to enter the New Year.  Three hundred sixty-five unmarked days spread before me, and I may use them anyway I like.  Most often people speak of marring them with mistakes and ugly words, but I plan a far more beautiful canvas for the year 2007.  Any great artist will tell you, however, that no masterpiece comes with out a plan and many mistakes in the making. 

      Now, before even one more moment passes by, as you are waking up to the untapped potential of this shining new gift, take a few moments to set your year aright.  Take stock under the weight of the weeks and months of the previous years; decide what you want from the hours spread before you.  When you feel at last prepared to face the prospect head on, throw back that weight and leave it behind.   Emerge from the bed of 2006 and step unhindered into this new place that awaits you.

      Find a holy place, be it shower or prayer closet and take some time to prepare yourself for what the Lord has planned.  For some it will be a year of healing and renewal, for some the year will be filled with sweat and hard lessons, it’s best to go prepared and the only preparation you will get is by listening to the Master.  In a place free from interruption and distraction, talk little, listen more and sing praises to your God.  He wants to tell you what He has in store for you this year.   He wants to give you some guidelines to help you make it through the hard days, and I assure you, there will be some hard days.  He wants to cleanse you of the dirt and gunk of the old year.  He wants to make you new so that you as well are a sparkling clean creation to match the year around you.

      Finally, before you enter the world in the year 2007, take the time to slather yourself in compassion.  It is not a pretty world out there, and we so often become jaded to the magnitude of ugliness.  Soften yourself now that you might see each individual with the love of the Father.  Un-guard your heart that it may be daily broken for the lost, the struggling, the ugly, the unlovable, the hateful, and when you are thoroughly softened with the heart of Jesus, then you are ready to open the door and face your New Year.  It promises to be the best one yet, if only you take the time to make it so.