“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)
My parents gave me a GE Electric Flip Number AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio when I started my freshman year at Penn State. It was high tech, and in my mind one of the original “digital” clocks. I could literally see time passing as the number cards flipped, a bit like the down markers on the sideline of football games.
My roommate and I created a monthly ritual. We would wait up until midnight on the last evening of the month and position ourselves in front of the clock, watching for the number cards to flip from 11:59 to 12:00. With the flip of the phone’s number cards, the last day of the one month turned into the first day of the next month. We would say, “Happy New Month” and go back to our studies or turn off the lights. There may have been times when a toast was offered. Student life at my alma mater rocked!
Happy New Month was a ritual of recognizing the passing of time and reminding us that a new month was the perfect time for a fresh start. Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, wrote an entire book in the bible of laments, passionately expressing grief or sorrow. Right in the middle of the book are the words from Lamentations 3:2-3 reminding us that God’s steadfast love never ceases, that God’s mercies are new every morning.
Take a moment to stop and reflect on God’s unwavering love in the past month. Be on the lookout this month for experiences that reveal God’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.
Happy New Month! Anne
PS: check out the link to see the GE flip clock radio https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m27813716994/?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12877497079&utm_content=t0&adgroup=120335190446&network=g&device=c&merchant_id=367048245&product_id=m27813716994&product_id=527918100373&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtJeNBhCVARIsANJUJ2HoXMjApHBlXqqTE458TNOQ5XbznC_pEdM6yrjIuTgpWuG8FLlkR7AaApGHEALw_wcB
Wayfinding 