Ring Out, Wild Bells
By Alfred Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
As I look back at this past year, one word comes to mind: messy.
Deployments, health issues, selling/buying houses, disheartening world events… It was one year-long storm that left my spiritual life a desert. I did not navigate this past year with as much grace as I’d like, but I’m looking to the new year with joyful hope.
People often joke about resolutions that tend to fade within the first few months (or weeks) of the new year. Today, however, I’m looking at the new year in a deeper way than trying to better myself through my own resolutions. I’m seeing it as God’s invitation to leave my past mistakes and struggles at the door and walk into a new light.
As we close out 2023, this poem will be my new prayer. If you have had a particularly hard year, know that you are not alone. The sadness or despair in our hearts only hold as much power as we give them.
So today, let’s ring it all out and ring in the Christ to be. And if we fail in the first few days, weeks, or even months of the new year, let us all push on.
As of now, I am still in the midst of deployment and living out of town while I wait to change Navy assignments with my family. We will not be settled into our new home until the end of January (if all goes well) so I will not have access to my shipping supplies. Thank you so much to everyone for their patience and support; I hope to be selling again soon!
One of the biggest blessings to come through my business has been serving as crowdfunding instructor for the Fiat Self-Publishing Academy. I absolutely love working with authors who wish to evangelize through writing. Does this sound like you? Consider enrolling into this special program!
For the self-publishing road map, click here.
For the author membership, click here.
These links are affiliate links.
Merry Christmas and cheers to the new year!
Through Christ,
Steph Petters
Steph,
May the Lord hear your heart and may He provide more blessing and abundance than you need!! My Dad was Air Force so I know a bit about moving around.
Many blessings in this coming New Year!!
Our study group and growing young families at Stella miss you!! But you are where the Lord needs you to be.
Nelson
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Num: 6:24-26