I have never quite got the hang of New Year’s Eve or New Year’s resolutions. I can understand the point of marking dates and remembering special occasions, but the world’s way of celebrating, with copious amounts of alcohol immediately followed by pious resolutions to be more virtuous, exercise more and lose weight seems strangely warped to me. As one person has said of contemplative personalities, ‘We assess and reassess our feelings, attitudes, responses and actions on a daily basis, maybe hourly, perhaps every ten minutes and sometimes in the same thought and on either side of a doughnut! Why would we throw another tractor tyre onto the pile for our personal Strongest Man competition?’
One of the greatest sources of my confusion lies with the Scottish traditions of Hogmanay. First-footing involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Fireball swinging seems even more bizarre to me (a recipe for setting fire to things, in my opinion.) And since I have never really understood the lyrics of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, I can’t see the point of linking arms with people and singing what are to me meaningless lyrics simply because it is 31st December!
So I was very pleasantly surprised to reach the end of Rend Collective’s ‘Campfire Christmas’ album and recognise a very familiar tune, which now had lyrics I not only understood but could wholeheartedly endorse!
‘Your grace will never be forgot.
Your mercy all my life
Will be my source forever song.
My story and my light
From mountain top to valley low
through laughter and through tears,
Surely the goodness of my God
Will follow all the years
For all that You have done for us
for every battle won
We’ll raise a song to bless Your heart
For all that you have done.
You know our failures and regrets
You always led us home
Redemption’s arm has raised us up
Our triumph in the storm
For all that You have done for us
For every battle won
We’ll raise a song to bless Your heart
For all that you have done
(You’re faithful through the ages)
In unity we’ll stand as one
As family we’ll go
Shoulder to shoulder
Hand in hand
Into the great unknown.’ (‘For All That You Have Done’, Rend Collective)