For those who are biblically minded (and perhaps for a few who are not this still has great applicability; just the purpose might vary)
A new year; new classes, new people, (for some, and entirely new school and/or town!).
A new chance, opportunity, ability to ‘re-create’ yourself, a new start.
How will you look at those ‘new’ people around you (or even those old acquaintances you have not seen for months) ?
Will you maintain your aura of silence and wait for them to engage you, and then decide if you will grace them with your attention? Will you focus on keeping that ‘arms length’ between you and ‘strangers’; whether to maintain your ‘rep’, keep from awkwardness of ‘newness’, or just out of fear of the unknown?
These people have been put around you, in your new environment for a reason. (For those of you who are not apt to adhere to the biblical notion of God’s sovereignty, you could look at them solely as people who could potentially help you in your life.)
Your challenge is to find that reason!
Remember, that your ability to serve God through serving other people is impacted by those people’s ability to get to know you! You could be as wise as Solomon, but if someone does not get the opportunity to know you, to see you as a person of character and wisdom, your ability to influence and help them is limited. Remember, people ‘…buy the messenger before the message!’.
So I encourage you, with the strongest of urgings, to ‘lean into’ these new budding relationships!
One of these new ‘strangers’ that you meet might be your newest lifelong friend!
One of these may be the man/woman who you will spend the rest of your life with, and help with your grandchildren!
One of these might be lost in this world, and you (with your unique combination of behavioral traits) may be the only person to help them find their way!
One of these people might be struggle with a life challenge which may have them asking if they want to continue to live…and you may be there to show them the only love that they might feel,
You might be the one to make a difference in their life…and who knows, they might make a difference in yours!
The point is, don’t let this year’s ‘new’ opportunity just go by without your reconsidering how you can make a difference, in someone’s life, in your own. Who knows, you might have come to this point in time for …. (well, you get the gist..)!
Ester 4
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”