Uncharted Waters 航向未知
Dexu Xia
Uncharted Waters
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2
The ball drops in New York’s Times Square. The crowd counts down to Big Ben chiming. Sydney Harbor erupts in fireworks. However your city marks it, there’s something exciting about welcoming in a new year and the fresh start it brings. On New Year’s Day we push out into new waters. What friendships and opportunities might we find?
For all its excitement, though, a new year can be unsettling. None of us knows the future or what storms it may hold. Many New Year’s traditions reflect this: Fireworks were invented in China to supposedly ward off evil spirits and make a new season prosperous. And New Year’s resolutions date back to the Babylonians who made vows to appease their gods. Such acts were an attempt to make an unknown future secure.
When they weren’t making vows, the Babylonians were busy conquering people—including Israel. In time, God sent the enslaved Jews this message: “Do not fear . . . . When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:1–2). Later, Jesus said something similar when He and the disciples were caught sailing in a violent storm. “Why are you so afraid?” He told them before commanding the waters to be still (Matthew 8:23–27).
Today we push out from the shore into new, uncharted waters. Whatever we face, He’s with us—and He has the power to calm the waves.
What possibilities excite you as you look forward to a new year? What worries can you place in God’s hands?
God, thank You that whatever this new year brings, You will be with me in it.
航向未知
你从水中经过，我必与你同在。—以赛亚书43章2节
纽约时代广场的降球仪式；伦敦大本钟的跨年敲钟仪式；台北101大楼的跨年烟火秀。不管你居住的城市如何庆祝新年，迎接新的一年和全新的开始总是令人兴奋不已。我们在元旦这天，启程前往全新的旅程。今年我们会交到哪些新朋友，又会碰上什么新的机会呢？
虽然新的一年令人兴奋雀跃，但也可能暗潮汹涌。没有人能预知将来，或是会面对哪些风暴。许多新年传统仪式，也显示出这一点：中国人发明烟火是希望能藉此驱邪纳福；新年许愿的传统据说是源自于古时的巴比伦人向神明许愿祈求庇佑。这些举动，都是试图确保不可知的未来能平安顺遂。
巴比伦人在没向神明许愿的时候，就忙着征服列国，包括以色列人。上帝告诉被掳的犹太人这样的信息：“你不要害怕！……你从水中经过，我必与你同在”（以赛亚书43章1-2节）。多年后，耶稣和门徒因猛烈的暴风而险遇船难时，耶稣也说了相似的话。祂在命令海水平静前，问门徒说：“为什么胆怯呢？”（马太福音8章23-27节）
今天，我们正要从岸边启程，航向崭新的未知水域。不论我们会面对什么挑战，上帝都与我们同在，而且祂有能力平息我们生命中的惊涛骇浪。
展望新的一年，哪些事使你兴奋期待？
有哪些使你担忧的事，你可以交在上帝手中呢？
上帝，感谢祢，不论今年我将面对什么景况，祢都会与我一同度过。