Every month we submit an article to Great Shelford's monthly magazine. Here is our latest contribution for the January 2026 edition.

 "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
Proverbs 16:9
 
It’s January 2026, and the new year always arrives with a strange mix of familiarity and fresh expectation. This is traditionally the season of new starts and resolutions—though four-fifths of those resolutions won’t last past mid-February. Perhaps that says something about how hard it is to change simply by willpower.
January itself is named after Janus, the Roman god with two faces: one looking back, one looking forward. It’s an image that raises a good question for us at the start of a year: which direction do we tend to face? Too much dwelling on the past can trap us in rumination and regret. Too much attention on the future can leave us anxious about what might happen next. Often, both extremes grow out of an uneasiness with the present.

The point, of course, isn’t to ignore either past or future, but to hold them in balance. The idea that “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” is commonly attributed to Winston Churchill, and it captures something important: the past can teach us. But our lives are not meant to be lived backwards. We live here and now, with an eye on what’s ahead.

As Christians, this balance is woven into our faith. We look back to the birth of Jesus—celebrated only weeks ago—and to his life, death and resurrection. These events root us in a story far bigger than our own, and they enable us to live “life to the full” (John 10:10) in him. At the same time, we look forward with hope, trusting in the promise that Christ will come again to renew creation. And in the present, we live by the gift of the Holy Spirit, who equips and guides us day by day. Past, present, and future held together.

Janus was also the god of doors, and the new year often feels like one. Opportunity knocks, as the saying goes. God’s path for us is not always the easiest, but it is always good. Before 2026 gathers too much speed, perhaps take a moment to reflect on what has been, and to ask God what the next faithful step might look like for you.

A very Happy New Year from all at Great Shelford Free Church.
Chris Smith, Deacon