Newsletter - March 2013 - Pony Club Association of NSW

Karen Moreton with her middle child Emilyand favourite horse DenverKaren’s Column is a regularfeature that looks at family, loveand faith through the entertainingmedium of short stories set in theworld of ponies.Karen Moreton is a chaplain andavid horse lover. She welcomesyour quesons, and comments,via email;karenjmoreton@bigpond.comPrevious arcles are available onthe Pony Club website,pcansw.org.au under thePublicaon secon.Here’s to fresh starts!A new year, a blank page, a cleanslate, a green horse … there issomething heartening andhopeful about new beginnings!It seems a new year alwaysgoes hand in hand with goalsand resoluons, but why do weso oen wait for the calendarto flip over before we makelife changes?Perhaps we make New Yearresoluons because we lovethe opmism a clean slate brings.We haven’t stuffed this year upyet and the pure, empty canvas of2013 is our fresh chance to getthings right… or at least beer.When I think of the unchartedpotenal of a blank year stretchedout before us, this poem pennedby an anonymous teacher comesto mind:“He came to my desk with aquivering lip, the lesson was done.‘Have you a new sheet for me,dear teacher? I’ve spoiled thisone.’I took his sheet, all soiled andbloed, and gave him a new one ‐all unspoed.And into his red heart I smiled,‘Do beer now, my child.’I came to the throne with atrembling heart; the day wasdone.‘Have you a new day for me, dearFather? I’ve spoiled this one.’God took my day, all soiled andbloed and gave me a new one ‐all unspoed.And into my red heart he smiled,‘Do beer now, my child.”Ah, the beauty of a fresh start!I find similar encouragement inthe promise from the apostle Johnwho wrote, “If we admit ourmistakes to God, He is faithful toforgive us and wash all our wrongsaway.” A clean slate comes asfreely as just ‘owning up’ to ourmistakes. I don’t think God couldhave made forgiveness anysimpler.I love the inspiraon of anuntouched, ‘unstuffed’ year. Ialways long to make both myselfand this New Year beer. But evenmore so, I love the promise that Idon’t have to wait for a new yearto get a clean slate, I can have oneevery day, every minute, everybreath. That is the beauty thatGod’s forgiveness brings toeveryday life.So happy New Year dear friends,and here’s to fresh starts!Wishing you a happy, hopeful2013,Karen MoretonChaplain27