2025
There is something about 25-year increments that gets everybody excited. Being only 70 miles from the little town of Sturgis (pop. 7,000), we noticed when roughly a million motorcyclists visited on the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally versus the typical half-million. It is also common to give a special gift and even have a party for a couple’s 25th, 50th, and even 75th anniversaries. There is just something about that quarter of a century mark that gets our attention.
Looking ahead to the year 2025, I cannot help but get a little bit of excitement myself. I grew up in the 20th century and this new year will mark the completion of the first quarter of the 21st century, a century that was synonymous with the future when I was a kid. For the older readers out there, being this far along in the 21st century is also remarkable considering the fact that a daily and universal conversation we had 25 years ago was about the world as we know it coming to an end on Y2K.*
And so, there are a lot of plans in the world for the coming quarter-century celebration. We all hope to see peace on the Russia/Ukraine fronts in Europe as well as peace for Israel and most of their neighbors in the Middle East. I imagine we also have mixed but hopeful expectations for the USA following a dramatic presidential election. On the anniversary front, 2025 will be a significant anniversary of many events. Regarding religion, we cannot ignore the 1700th anniversary of the Council at Nicaea. Regarding patriotism, we must mention the 250th anniversaries of the “shot heard round the world” at Lexington-Concord (4/19/1775), the creation of the armed forces (Army, 6/14/1775, Navy, 10/13/1775, and the Marine Corps, 11/10/1775), and the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon (4/30/1975).
So, what are your BIG personal plans for 2025? Are you going to right all the wrongs in your life? Are you going to achieve your weight loss goals that you set out to accomplish with more intentions than success over the last 5 years? Are you going to read the Bible through once this year? Are you going to make it to church every month or every week or lead a Bible study? Are you going to have consistent and meaningful family devotions every day? Are you going to learn a new hobby like jiu jitsu, goat herding, or crochet? Are you going to clean up that mess in the back 40, the backyard, or in your office?
Whatever you plan to accomplish, I am sure it will be wonderful. But before you set out to achieve those lofty goals for what looks like may be your most successful year ever, 2025, let me give you a word of advice. Go ahead and make lofty plans, after all, it is a big new year! But do not expect to accomplish them all at once. Rather, make your plans and let God help you accomplish them, step by step, as you encounter one day at a time. And, as you walk daily with God in 2025, you will find something even more satisfying than accomplishing your goals, you will accomplish God’s goals.
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
*For you younger readers, let me fill you in. There was a lot of hype … and then NOTHING HAPPENED