Do you like the thought of a new beginning, a fresh start? Most people tend to think of new beginnings in January, at the start of the year, but September is the start of the school year, so that's another new beginning for many. And of course, you can start a new job or project, a new relationship, or move to a new home at any point in the year.
There's just something about a fresh start, with no baggage from the past, and an unknown future ahead. I certainly enjoy the anticipation and excitement of a new start, a new project, a clean page ready for a new story, a new fantasy world to build. Mind you, I'm not nearly so good at finishing the stories...
Leonie's first new start comes in December rather than January, Mind you, she takes some convincing, and it's several months before she really accepts her new place. Here's Brother Andrew trying to convince her.
The crowd ebbed and flowed and now Andrew was standing beside me.
“Hi,” he said, smiling down at me. “Enjoying the singing?” He inclined his head towards the front, where Perry and Aidan had just finished.
“I’m enjoying it all,” I told him.
He had to have heard the longing in my voice because he answered that with, “You know, everyone is welcome here. Anyone can belong. It doesn’t matter what they’ve done in the past, however bad. We all start here with a clean slate. No matter what.”
I looked at him. “No matter what, however bad? Whatever you’ve been?”
“Everything can be forgiven, if you’re prepared to accept that forgiveness.”
Andrew has to put a fair bit of effort into convincing Prospero to accept his new start, too!
But by the end of the series - well, let's just say that several more people have new starts in their lives, new roles, new or much improved relationships with others, and even new homes. You'll have to read the whole Choices and Consequences series to find out more.
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