A Prayer for the New Year

God I give you
last year
with its close calls
rescues
traps and sorrows
collapses and renewals
crises and joys
stains and scars

and I hope somehow
I lived it well
in your wise eyes.

I give you this new year
with all its bright and shine
caution and hope
I lift it high up to you now
when it has barely broken the horizon.

take it up into your hands
along with my soul
look them over with your keen eye
trim away the chaff
the chaos
the reticence
and re-fire me to go
poised at the gate
fueled with hope
blackened with the burn marks from last year
but rich with the hard-won lessons
and ready to go again
as the planet is ready
for a new revolution around the sun.

there is much to learn
adventures to welcome and not to fear
as I step onto your proving ground
knowing you post your angels everywhere
and that the same providence
that guided me through the last wild ride
is all still there
ever aware
on the watch
and worthy of my second-by-second trust.

say the word
I'm ready to go
into the rising new year
even though
my knees might be shaking
a little
from the old one.

By: Greg Ferguson
Co-Producer/ Experience Designer, The Global Leadership Summit

A Prayer for the New Year is also posted on Greg's blog, 10,000 Pages