Reflection for 2018 by Dale Coad (written December 31, 2017)
Greetings from bitterly cold Pittsboro (Raleigh area) in North Carolina where the Coad-Comellas clan of 19 people celebrated Christmas and are waiting to welcome in the New Year of 2018. As so many are doing in these closing hours of 2017, I am reflecting on where we've come from and where we are going.
In my office, I have a phrase from a speech that Winston Churchill gave that capture my attention several years ago. I reminds me that life is in fact a series of events infused with victories, disappointments and future glory.
Addressing the House of Commons during Great Britain's bitter war with Nazi Germany after a series of defeats from Dunkirk to Singapore and one significant victory where Alexander and Montegomery turned back Rommel's force at El Alemin, Church exhorted those in attendance,
"This is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it perhaps the end of the beginning."
As one historian observed, in all of Great Britain's wars, they always managed to win their last battle, which of course is the most significant one to win. With Britain's victory over Rommel, everything changed in terms of the nation's sense of their past failures, present courage and their capacity to believe in their future.
They did not allow the defeats of their past rob them of their courage in the present to obscure their vision for the future. Churchill went on to say,
"We mean to hold our own. I have not become the King's First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire....Here we are, and here we stand, a veritable rock of salvation in this drifting world..."
As you reflect on this past year 2017, I image that you've had your shared of victories, challenges and perhaps some defeats. I encourage you to not allow the failure of the past to deprive you of your faith in the present to dim your vision for God's victories in your future.
Let's seize this moment in time to give God all the Glory in 2018. As Paul wrote:
Philippians 3:12-14 J.B. Phillips New Testament
"I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this; I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal--my reward the honor of being called by God in Christ."
Patti and I are indeed blessed serving Christ in the diversity of countries in the warm Caribbean. We are honored to served with a godly and dedicated team of compassionate and passionate missionaries who give their all for the God of their calling. Let's make 2018 a year for God's glory!
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