When I was a child, I remember being asked at birthday time, “How does it feel to be a year older?” In truth it never felt at all different from the day before and the day after. The only change I noticed was there was now a different answer to the question “How old are you?” New Years has always seemed much the same to me. The day before and the day after are pretty much the same. The only big difference seems to be a different year date to put on checks. It might be useful to reflect on the events of the previous years but the year ahead can not be planned in any great detail. “New Year’s Resolutions” are normally defunct well before February arrives. The New Year only gets the most cursory notice in the Christian calendar. We are done with Advent and Christmas and are well on our way toward Lent and Easter. Our culture will celebrate the New Year for an evening and a day and then we will be back to ordinary time. We will have passed another mile marker, but the highway is still running a long toward destinations which we only dimly anticipate. We hope the ordinary days will be pleasant and secure. We look forward for events that are meaningful and ever for some divine surprises. What we can count on in the New Year is that the presence of God will be with us whatever the new days bring. Every day we will be able to say “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”