New beginnings

Available for over a year

Good morning. September, for some, can be a time of new beginnings. Having spent a rather long time in education, first as a student and then as a teacher, this month meant preparing new timetables, new registers, and making sure that I had all the necessary equipment and materials for the academic year ahead. The uncertainty of a new season can be both exciting and daunting. Think of a child that has started at a new school, or a young person leaving home for the first time. For me, leaving London to head to university in Scotland was immense. I remember being rather tearful with my roommate on the first evening, after our families had helped us unpack and then left. There we were, the two of us, surrounded by boxes, crying, and realising that this was the start of a new stage of our lives. Yet, I had no idea that this new beginning would bring lifetime friendships, adventure, and useful life lessons. It was a special time. I learnt so much about who I was, and wasn’t, and what I felt I could contribute to the world. And isn’t that what new beginnings are all about? Holding what you already know and making room for new learning, new ways of thinking and being. As a Christian, my faith has helped me navigate so many new seasons. It’s not that I always felt that everything would be ok. I couldn’t claim that. Rather, my faith always pointed me to the fact that I wasn’t alone. So today, I pray for courage, clarity and openheartedness in the face of new beginnings and to be reminded that there are people there to walk alongside me. Amen.