If you seem to see this poem everywhere, I will take partial blame. Or credit. It is so wonderful that I’ve blogged it before, put it on our Christmas letter, mumbled it in the grocery store. Because 2019 is looming and I’m not prepared for it.

THE GATE OF THE YEAR

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the Hand of God.  That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

There is a quite lovely story behind this. It was written by British poet Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)—actually part of a longer poem called “God Knows” and published in 1908.

1939 was a bad year for England, in the bitterest throes of war, and 1940 didn’t look to be better. Young Princess Elizabeth shared “God Knows” with King George (aka her papa). He chose to share the preamble in his Christmas radio address to his anxious nation.

I choose to share it with you. With a confession that I am moderately hypocritical in doing so. I want the light shown on 2019. I want guarantees for my loved ones, my nation, my church. And guess what? God refuses to give me any guarantee except His presence and everything it entails. And He guarantees me that it all shall be well.

Happy New Year, dear ones. I’m praying that health and strength and blessings galore lie beyond the door to 2019 for us all. I’m confident of this though. God is there already.