The Year is Dying, Let Him Die

We have a church hymn that we usually sing this time of year.  Here are the lyrics:
Ring Out, Wild Bells
1. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light.
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
2. Ring out the old; ring in the new.
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is going; let him go.
Ring out the false; ring in the true.
The year is going; let him go.
Ring out the false; ring in the true.
3. Ring in the valiant men and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

For some, the new year is an introspective time to review how the past year has gone.  I see many bloggers who give a run down of their past posts.  Frankly, I skip over these posts.  I read them the first time, and I don't need to review them.  And frankly, I am the kind of person who is constantly reviewing my life, so I don't really do that on New Year's eve.  I'm more interested in looking forward.  I'm more interested in planning what I will do this coming year.  The year is dying, let him die.  And I don't think that just because a year ends, that all of the bad things that happened during the year will stop.  Trials have no time table.  They don't care if it's January 1st.  I think the key is to really savor the good times while we have them, and to look forward with hope for a better time when things are going bad.  Here's wishing each of you a wonderful year ahead.  These are our lives to make what we will of them.  We are at the helm.