Begin Again
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 110
Often I begin my day listening to music as I go out for an early morning run. Setting the day into motion with the melody of praise puts to rest any voices from the previous day, and allows me to begin my life again and start the day with a clean slate. Perhaps this is what St. Benedict meant when he put into motion the idea of “beginning again.” Benedict’s rule was an early gift to the church with the intention of providing a roadmap for our spiritual life. It was more than a method of prayer. It became a lifestyle for many early Christians.
When I think about “beginning again,” I see an opportunity. After a restful or restless night of sleep, each new day is a reminder to start fresh. Often it begins with a recalibration of sorts. We also find this rhythm in our own Book of Common Prayer. In the Daily Office of Morning Prayer, we encounter this idea of “beginning again” with the confession. Intentionally placed, it sets us in the motion of worshipping God with a clean slate. Confession is a way of emptying ourselves, while absolution reminds us that God forgives us, accepts us and loves us as we are. This is the point of “beginning again.” It is like being given a “do over” again and again.
Psalm 100 is a response to God’s goodness. Through the practice of beginning again, we learn who we are and to whom we belong. Our hearts fill with praise for a personal God who never gives up on us and is always there to give us another chance. The wonderful thing is that He never grows tired of us and He always encourages us.
Today is a new day. This gift from God gives us the opportunity to bury the hatchet and start over, to put our lives in perspective and see God for who He really is, and to live knowing redemption and grace. Beginning again is both an opportunity and a choice God offers each of us. I invite you to respond today by starting out with praise and thanksgiving.
