In the last of our month’s articles for the New Year series, we interview two women - one from an older generation and one from a younger - to find out (in their experience) what new beginnings are all about.

Let us introduce you to:
Michelle Spencer, young member of ALOVE and Margaret Yuill, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in Central North Division (Manchester etc).


What does the phrase’ new beginning’ mean to you?

MY: Starting all over again – a clean sheet. Like at school when you could begin a new exercise book, or sheet of paper.

MS: A new beginning means new possibilities with no restrictions. It brings about renewed confidence, renewed hope and freedom.

Have you ever experienced what you might call a ‘new beginning’ or ‘fresh start’?

MY: Definitely - when I first became a Christian at the age of 8 and many times since then.

MS: I can remember a significant point in my life when I had got into some bad company and started rejecting the Church and God. I remember being on holiday with a Christian mate of mine and, as we were travelling back on a ferry, I confessed to her and to God of everything I was doing. We sat on that ferry for an hour and a half just chatting and praying for forgiveness and renewal.

How did this come about?

MY: On that first occasion, it was as a result of wanting to be good and I knelt at the SA mercy seat during Sunday school.

MS: Throughout this time away from God I couldn’t face talking to him because I felt so guilty about what I was up to and I didn’t want to stop just yet. I do remember constantly feeling like I was missing out on something. I was so weighed down by guilt that I didn’t think there was any way out. It was only when I went on holiday and found myself surrounded by Christian friends that I realized what I was missing out on. They were living with so much hope and freedom which was something I hadn’t felt for a while; so I stepped out in courage and chatted through what I had done and what I was going through.

As you’ve grown older have you found that you’ve needed lots of fresh starts?

MY: Yes, but they have all been connected to that first one in some way. I never felt that I had deliberately messed up or turned away from God, just had not made the progress I ought to have made.

MS: I find that my life gets increasingly more complicated and cluttered so I constantly need to reorganise and reassess what I am doing. This can be as simple as taking an afternoon out to clean my room out and throwing all my accumulated junk right through to taking a day out with God and listening to what he wants from me. This allows me space to get myself together and start again.

What does forgiveness have to do with fresh starts?

MY: Returning to the analogy of the exercise book, it means that the page with all the mistakes and blots has been destroyed and I can start on a new page, as if that other page had never been written.

MS: I think that forgiveness is integral to fresh starts. Often we get ourselves so worked up with guilt from something we have done or angry at what someone else has done to us that forgiveness and grace becomes essential, so we can move on. The great thing about forgiveness (whether given or received) is that it allows us to wave goodbye to the baggage of the past and look towards a second chance in the future. That’s really what grace is: a second chance…forever!

How have you been forgiven?

MY: When he died, loving and forgiving on the cross, Jesus took the blame for all the wrong I have ever done and did away with it – cancelled it out. I cannot explain how that works, but the Holy Spirit has made it real in my life.

MS: To identify all the times I have been forgiven would go on forever! The truth is that everyday I need forgiving and the good news is that every day I am forgiven.

What has forgiveness meant to your life?

MY: Like the man said - It’s like waking up to sunshine; it’s like coming out of prison; it’s like being born again!

MS: In his book, ‘On cosmopolitanism and Forgiveness’ Jacques Derrida speaks of the fact that ‘forgiveness forgives only the unforgivable’. He tells that forgiveness is something that often seems impossible: it is always hard work, immediately earth shattering and completely necessary. When I think about the times when I have been forgiven, I can totally identify with what Derrida says. Then, when I remember what Jesus had to do to forgive me it blows my mind!

Someone taught me the other day that Jesus never had any guarantees that anyone would follow him after his death; but he died for us anyway! He gave his life up without any assurance that we would be convinced. That is forgiveness: it was hard, it does seem impossible, it was earth shattering and I am so grateful for it.

Why does God love to “change the old for new”?

MY: Because he does! He is the greatest maker.

MS: God changes the old for new to allow us a chance to start afresh without the constraints of fear or guilt. Ever since the fall of humanity God has been in the business of restoration and we are part of that plan. He always sees our potential and wants us to be the best version of ourselves: if reaching that goal means we need to change aspects of our lives then he will gently persuade us to do that.

The start of a New Year is often a chance for people to take stock and start something new. What would you recommend to a young person looking for a New Year resolution?

Don’t make resolutions, just make sure that every day you live your life in tune with, in step with, in touch with and in line with the Holy Spirit

What new thing would you like to see started in 2005?

MY: A system/process that means that there is absolutely no litter dropped or left lying anywhere so that the new start affects the environment too!

MS: I would like to be proactive in starting friendships with older people in our Church. I have been so blessed in the past from my interactions with older generations: they always have so much wisdom and knowledge that I can learn from. In return I find that they appreciate hearing my views on subjects too. My fear is that we become so bound up in our own comfortable age groups that we simply stop listening to those who have been in similar situations to ourselves.