This is my very first letter for 2008. Let me wish you a year of joy, peace, health, love and I pray that all of us will give birth to a new and vibrant sense of commitment. God has a plan for our future and we need to pull out all the stops and go forth with a single mindedness of purpose, loyalty, integrity, faithfulness and consecration. It is amazing that God will help us do all of this with excitement, expectancy, wonderment and curiosity. Thus armed there is no doubt that the doors of heaven will pour out blessings upon us. There will be new people to meet, new places to go, new tasks to accomplish and a multitude of experiences we cannot even conjure up in our minds.

For instance let us take a look at a young man, who was devoted to his job as night manager of a small hotel in Philadelphia. His wife nagged constantly that he could do better. However he was dogged in his commitment to his job.  One cold and rainy night an elderly couple almost fell into the foyer of his hotel. They were wet, cold and very tired. They asked for a room but unfortunately the hotel was full. He offered them a seat, took their wet coats and offered to personally phone around for a room for them. They were relieved, but the news was not good. The manager could not find a single place for them to stay for the night. However, he took pity on them and told them that he had a very small room, where he could rest at times. If you don’t mind the confined space, I will be delighted to let you sleep there. At least you will be out of the cold and rain.

With a sigh of relief and a great big “thank you”, they were able to smile at last. “The dining room is closed but I am sure I can scramble up some eggs, toast and tea for you.” They were really impressed by his kindness. The next morning, feeling refreshed, the couple thanked him for his loving care of them and headed on home to New York.