Message of Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church, Cupertino, from the Nakhagoch Newsletter. Electronic version archived on: SAIN-- St. Andrew Information Network -------------------------------------- c. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- December 1987 A year ago the psychics had made their predictions. A year later those events have not come to pass. (Vanna White and Pat Sajak did not elope, a big-city mayor did not have a sex change operation, Jesus did not appear on TV during the Super Bowl gameÉ) But the psychics are at it again with predictions for 1988. What is worse is that they still have their followings, dispite their records of failure. Man is a limited being. It is part of the definition of being mortal. We live within the confines of time. Yet we reach out for immortality. We look for the spectacular, for something greater than limitations. We want to beat time. The appeal of the psychic is that s/he may somehow be able to see beyond the limitations of time. Einstein has said that time is nothing more than what a clock measures. New Years Day is a mark on our annual clock. It is different from other days because it defines a beginning. We greet each other with the expression, "Happy New Year!" What there is about a New Year which makes it "happy" is that it signals the start of a new period. If the past has not been all that we had hoped for, then a new beginning should be a reason for happiness. The clock gives us a chance to begin again. It moves forward. It gives us an opportunity to hope and move toward improvement. Many times, however, we enjoy the past. Not only the fond and happy memories but the sad ones as well. We dwell on them. We recount them, details and all. We make apologies difficult. We rekindle expired flames. And so on and so onÉ God creates man with eyes on the front of his head. This is a reminder that God asks us to look forward and not back. The future is always bright. The future is always hopeful because the future is before us. By looking ahead we accept others, we are able to love without conditions from the past. New Years Day is a beginning. May it be a beginning for all plans unacomplished, all dreams not yet realized. In the Armenian Church, following the new year we greet our Lord at His revelation. Christ has been revealed so that we may be renewed and move ahead. On the occassion of the New Year, my sincerest wishes to all the officers and members of our parish organizations and to our parishioners for a happy and healthy year. May God's love and blessings be with you and your families always. As for our St. Andrew Armenian Church, may 1988 be another year of spiritual and physical growth. The challenges for the coming year, especially with the imminent building project, will be great, but together and with God's help we will meet them. --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------