Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-12-30
The Old Year and
the New
A Sermon for New Years Eve
by
REV. STEPHEN PAULSoN

Ny Times are In Thy hand.-Psalm 3l:l5.
CAD and solemn are the last hours
- Of the dying year. Only a few
~ months ago a New Year was
given unto us, fresh and pure from
Gods great storehouse OF time. 1t
has spent it's life upon the earth, and
its footprints will never be effaced.
The departing year has brought to us
Gods numberless blessings; 1t has
seen many noble deeds done, and It
has seen progress in many depart
ments of life.
The passing Of another year must
emphasize to every thoughtful person
the swift flight of time. Looking
backward over the past years of our
life they seem to shrink TO the size
Of beads strung around child's neck.
Seeking an image of mans career, the
prophet sees his days swifter than
weaver's shuttle; his years swifter
than an arrow, curving as 1t rises to
its fall. What is mans lhe? he asks.
II Is a cloud dissolving In the sun
shine. II is a summer brook swollen
by sudden rains, but soon running out
and leaving the stones bare again.
It is a tale that is soon told.
These last days Of the old year urge
MS to husband well the time that Is
still given us. To shrub year
means only leaf; to the vine, clus-
ter; to the tree, new ring OF wood.
But to a man a year means a large
portion of his life which has been
used or wasted. Youth often unthlnk.
ingly throws all responsibilities on the
years to come. To him everything
seems possible in the future. Then he
thinks to have time for education.
Then he will practice economy and
thrift, let the present be prodigal as
II may. The morrow will suffice FOR
the forming Of habits and the building
of character. So dazzled by the sa-
ture the youth allows the years TO
slip through his hands, and the result
IS a man who is an intellectual infant
and moral feebling. As you pause
now and think over the past, you
must realize that the morrow holds
no haryests which the laborers called
yesterdays did not sow and cultivate.
There was an ancient custom Of put
ting an hourglass into the coffin Of
the dead to signify that their time
had run out--a useless notification to
them. Better put the hourglass into
the hand of every living man to snow
him how swiftly the sands Of life do
now. But, after all, time Is OF value
only as we make the best use Of 1t.
We live in deeds. not years; in thoughts
not breatfs;
m Feelings. not in figures on a dial.
We should coar. time by heart-throbs.
Who thinks most. feels the noblest. acts
the best.
The old year may hold our many
failures, many disappointments, many
bitter regrets. The New Year holds
out to us hope and promise. for my
times are in Thy hand. o Lord. II
should comfort us when we think of
the brevity of our years, to realize
by contrast the length OF Gods years.
We have but short time to work,
and II Is well to remember that In
order that we may be dnhgent. But
God has whole eternity In which
10 work, and 1t is well to remember
that also, so that we may cease from
fretfulness and impotence at the slow
progress of His kingdom among us.
Jesus Christ has not ceased from His
redemption of the world. nor has God
been defeated In His plans for hu-
manity, for the times OF men and
nations are IN His hand.
For most Of us the memory Of the
past Is a chamber of discomfort. Let
therefore the old year bury from
sight its story of sin and sorrow and
failure. Let there be sincere repent
snce for the follies of the past, and
then let new man step forth TO meet
with hope and determination the glad
New Year which God desires shall be
a blessed year for every child Of
earth. When God forgives. He for.
gives utterly. He casts mans sins
Unto the depths Of the sea-" Why
then should memory thrust its hooked
pole into the sea to dredge the bot
tom and bring up by the locks some
-