Let’s Begin Again

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. 

Isaiah 42:8-9

St. Francis of Assisi loved the tau symbol of the cross. As the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it signified for him not merely an ending, but an opportunity to begin again. Those who knew him reported that he lived in constant hope of new beginnings. St. Bonaventure wrote that toward the end of his life, St. Francis said to his brothers, “Let us begin again, brothers, for up until now we have done little or nothing.”

These are such sage words from one who knew the toil of decrease, that Jesus might increase. The work to be done is massive, and we are small. But God is great, and He is the God of hope and fresh starts.

The hope of new beginnings is hopeful, indeed.

The Lord, the One who gives His glory to no other, beckons us to constant new beginnings. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

Because his steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, we can begin again, and again, and again. We are held steadfastly, even in our need to start over. #mercy Click To Tweet

Cyclical creatures, we are created in rhythms of work and rest, day and night, darkness and light. Here on this spinning planet, we are confined to endings and beginnings, evenings and mornings.

But one day, (and this is the hope St. Francis had!) we will wake up to a new beginning that will never end. It was promised before it began, and it will surely come to pass, for He who promised is faithful.

Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:23

The mystery of beginning again lies in where it starts. Beginnings originate in the One who is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. What a marvel! He who has no beginning or end invites us to start over. 

In the toil of life on earth, it is often thought that beginnings start with us. With our resolve, our will, our effort. It certainly seems so.

But true beginnings originate in the heart of He whose steadfast love and mercy never come to an end. This understanding can transform the way we see our disappointments, our failures, and most of all, our perceived endings.

If the Lord’s steadfast love never ceases, if His mercies never come to an end, we are secure. We do not wield power mighty enough to bring them to an end, even in our darkest moments.

For the Lord, the One who is faithful, the One who gives His glory to no other, the One who brings former things to pass and declares new things before they begin is set on love and mercy for you and me. And these have no end, yet invite us to start over.

This is a beginning that originates in God, and we don’t have to strive for it.

Let us begin again.

The beginning originates in God, little Pilgrim. You see? Just take His hand.

Dear Lord, my Alpha and Omega, thank you for your mercy and love that invites me today to begin again. Amen.

@audreycfrank