The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

"The Way We Were, A New Year"

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

29 December 1999

Looking back seems to come naturally when we hit a major anniversary, and a new century is just about as major as you can get for a new year.

This year carries with it even more concerns than ever before with the new technology we have available. Evidently, we have progressed so fast into the high tech world that no one was thinking ahead in preparation of the next century. It has only been the last couple of years that the Y2K concerns have been talked about.

Isn't that just like us. We are better at looking back or at being busy with today and the present world to ever plan ahead. We know with each day we are not moving backwards for tomorrow always comes. We are headed someplace, but most of us do not realize that we play a big part in where we are going by the way we view or fail to view the future.

Although the Y2K concerns have been addressed, I find I need to trade in my bank ATM card, so it is compatible out of our area.

And even though I thought my new computers were all up-to-date, the very latest one I purchased a couple weeks ago flashed some kind of message this week saying it detected a problem and I needed the newer version of Microsoft Explorer to be Y2K ready. The problem is, I already have the latest version, so why am I getting this message?

Now I am beginning to wonder if there are hidden problems that will occur that we may have no way of knowing until the morning after new year's day of 2000.

On Christmas, my sister-in-law gave everyone in the family a flash light, just in case there are no lights in January. Now, there is a woman who is looking ahead in preparation. I gave my children oil lamps, only because I thought they were cute and because we do have power outages sometimes.

This new age is so high tech, we can hardly get along today without technology. The way it used to be, everything was manual. No flushers on the toilet, water was from the well, lights from the sun or candle or lamp by night, heat from a fire, and the only gas the horse needed was hay and oats stored in a barn.

Today, we can get caught in a traffic jam if the lights fail. We can become stranded on a highway if our car quits. We can get caught in an elevator if it malfunctions. We can get mighty hungry if the restaurants and stores close, and we might even have to do without clothing if stores close and internet stops.

It doesn't take long for someone with years of excellent credit to earn a poor credit rating if their paycheck stops coming for a couple of months.

According to Larry Burkett, a financial specialist, you should have at least 6 months worth of money saved up that can pay bills for that 6-month period, in case of an emergency. Burkett has been warning us over and over again to save and invest and limit the credit.

Can we all look back over the 20th century, which is for most of us, all our lives? Can we see the trail of where we have been, where we have wandered off track and strayed? Can we see the times we pulled back on track and accomplished some things? What a good feeling that was.

Now that we have learned from the past, are we ready to move forward onto a straighter path. Have we set some goals, made some lists of how to meet them, and jotted down plans on a calendar?

It is just as important to list things we will not do in the 21st century. If we are to reach our goals, we are definitely going to have to set limits as well.

It is not that we don't all have failures, for we do. But first, we have to admit them or they will stay with us forever. With each failure there is a lesson to learn about making us better.

It is sad to meet people that can't admit their failings. For they will never improve because they refuse to admit them. They will continue on the same roads in the next century no matter how bumpy for they refuse to learn the lessons.

I pray for each of us that we walk a little humbler and a little wiser into the new millennium. I pray we have a softer heart for others who are really trying to make their way in this world. I hope we will take time to look back and see our own failures and learn from them so as not to make the same mistake again. I pray we might help another in their weakness and struggles, as we, too, have been helped at times. I hope that each of us begin each day by asking God to guide us through it, rather than our taking control of the day without the heart and wisdom of the one who created us for good.

On new year's eve, make merry and celebrate all the blessings of the 20th century.

Then on January 1st, 2000, chart your course, push to stay on the right road to success. Don't give into the easy way, nor the ruts you were in before. Improve whatever life you might have left. Whether you have a few days, a few months, or several years, make each day count for something.

When you get to the end, you will be glad you followed the Master pilot, and that you didn't waste a day, and that you took advantage of the many opportunities within your reach:no regrets: and Happy 2000!