Don't Let Me Stain This Year…

There is a sober, searching wonder and an awesome beauty in the swift movement

of the seasons, and in the swift passing of the seasons there comes an awareness that

today is the time to do what should be done today. “Thank Heaven I can start again:”

wrote Celia Cole. “Oh, please God… don’t let me stain this year with ugly things.. or

waste any of it!… Let me live it beautifully, generously… Help me to bid goodnight

to each day, not ashamed to look it in the face, and good-morrow to each morning

grateful that it has come… Of all the lovely mysteries that are part of life, nothing is

more blessed than the coming of another day, the coming of a new, clean year. One more

chance to try your skill at living. A new, clean page on which, this time, pray God, you

will write nothing that is untrue… Simple, pure honesty – all year long… Good,

strong, happy and sober things… “¹ – free from excess of idle thoughts, from false

pride and light-mindedness – from idleness and uncleanness. “You write your book-

each year, a page. Make it true. Make it interesting. Make it live,” she pleaded – for “in

that Great Library where the books are gathered in for all men to see, you’ll be…

ashamed if yours is shallow trash… To some… it is a clean white page… or a room

… or an untraveled road whereon you have set your feet… But you must know where

you want it to lead… because it can change itself to any direction you will – if you will

with all your heart… Whatever it is, a page, a room, a road, another chance, or just a

stretch of time, it’s something new and clean put into your hands for you to use. No

wonder bells ring out!”¹