Another year has come and gone, and our lives have been enriched in many ways through the events of the past 365 days. Each of us can look back over the days of 2015 and remember days of joy and of sadness, days of health and of sickness, days spent with friends and days spent in solitude, days of accomplishment and days of waste, days which proved to be extremely productive and days that yielded little to nothing, and on the list could go. It would do us all well to pause for a brief recap of the events of the past year, and make sure we learn the lessons that were made available to us.

And now, as we come to the beginning of another year, we usually greet one another with the all-too familiar “Happy New Year.” What exactly do we mean by that greeting? Do we mean that we wish for each person we share it with that the new year would hold nothing but happiness and bliss? Do we mean that we wish for them a full year filled with nothing but those things which would cause them to experience the heights of euphoria? If so, we might be wishing them an entire year in which they would not experience many of the things that could actually bring them the most fulfillment, the most personal growth, the best opportunities for enrichment and development into a much better person.

Now some might think they would much rather have that type of year than the one that might bring them to a deeper level of maturity, if that deeper level required them going through some less than “happy” moments. However, that would also lead to a much less gratifying year. The best year would be the one in which and through which an individual might encounter experiences which would lead to a deeper level of maturity in several areas, some of which would be spiritual, mental, and emotional health. Also, oftentimes it requires a bit of discomfort and pain to accomplish certain goals. For example, if one of your new year resolutions happens to be to get in better physical shape in 2016, then you know already that the old adage is true: no pain, no gain. If you want to advance on the job, then you know you will have to pay the price of longer hours, and perhaps adding a few college classes or on-going job development courses to make that happen. This may mandate that you experience some moments that are less than “happy,” but will prove to make you a better person as a result.

What it boils down to is a simple, yet complex, principle: wholeness as a person is much more important than temporary experiences of euphoria that lasts but a brief, fleeting moment. Wholeness as a person means that we continue to grow toward development of our personal skills, our personal strengths, and toward becoming everything that we ought to become.

And also, and even more importantly for the Christian, is the desire not only to achieve personal wholeness, but to attain a great level of holiness than I have previously. This calls for commitment to be the best representative of Jesus Christ that I can be. It means striving after the things of God rather than the things of the world. It means denying myself those things that would hinder my personal spiritual progress in order to become more conformed to the image of my Savior.

I am reminded of a story I read several years ago about Michelangelo. It is told that he was visited by a friend who came into Michelangelo’s studio. Sitting in the middle of the studio was a huge piece of marble. The friend asked, “What’s that?” to which Michelangelo replied, “That is a horse.” The friend was stupefied, and asked how in the world he could ever possibly get a horse out of that massive piece of marble. Michelangelo simply said that in order to get the horse out of the marble, he simply had to chip off everything that did not look like a horse.

In our desire to attain a deeper level of holiness, and, yes, a greater level of wholeness, then we must allow God to chip away everything in our lives that does not “look like” Jesus. Sometimes this can be a painful process, as God takes His spiritual chisel in hand, knocking off those pieces of our lives that look too much like us and not enough like Jesus. But, if we are to be our best, and achieve our highest, and attain our potential, then the chiseling process is necessary.

So, when I wish you a “Happy New Year,” I am wishing for you a year filled with experiences which will best serve helping you become whole and holy. That is the best new year you could ever have. So, here goes: HAPPY NEW YEAR!