(I was planning on writing continuously on my "Sola" series, but haven't had the time for blogs of such length. So, this instead has kept me from writing anything at all. So, as time allows I'll occasionally write more on the Solas, but until then I'll keep updating with shorter posts on other things that God impresses on my mind.)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the greatest Christian voices in Germany crying out against the Nazi party and Hitler during their reign in Germany. Bonhoeffer was convinced that Germany would never be secure as long as the Nazi party or any other party tried to separate their country from God. So, in spite of the risks, Bonhoeffer spoke out loudly against the Godless direction the Nazis and Hitler were taking Germany, both on spiritual issues and against the war. Because of his stance, Dietrich was in constant danger of imprisonment or other retaliation from the Nazi party; at one point, friends in Britain and America even smuggled him out of the country to keep him safe. However, Bonhoeffer was convinced that he had no right to lead as a Christian unless he was willing to suffer with his fellow Christian brothers in Germany, and so he returned to Germany. He was shortly after imprisoned, and suffered in concentration camps for several years, so impressing his fellow captors as well as his Nazi party guards with his faith that they smuggled his writings out to Britain that they might be published while he was still in prison. One of his last received writings was entitled "New Year 1945," and was received just months before his martyrdom in April 1945, intentionally killed just days before the Allies would have freed him from his camp.
With every power for good to stay and guide me,
comforted and inspired beyond all fear,
I'll live these days with You in thought beside me,
and pass, with You, into the coming year.
The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening,
the long days of our sorrow still endure,
Father, grant the soul Thou hast been chastening
That Thou hast promised--the healing and the cure
Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
even to the dregs of pain, at Thy command,
We will not falter, thankfully receiving
all that is given by Thy loving hand.
But, should it be Thy will once more to release us
to life's enjoyment and its good sunshine,
That we've learned from sorrow shall increase us
and all our life be dedicate as Thine.
To-day, let candles shed their radiant greeting:
lo, on our darkness are they not Thy light,
leading us haply to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine e'en our darkest night.
When now the silence deepens for our harkening,
grant we may hear Thy children's voices raise
from all the unseen world around us darkening
their universal paean, in Thy praise.
While all the powers of God aid and attend us,
boldly we'll face the future, be it what may.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
And oh, most surely on each new year's day!
