The prolific author, poet, and journalist G.K. Chesterton in commenting about the New Year once said, “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”
The following story is a wonderful tale of a man who achieved unintended fame in seeking only a special kind of humble effectiveness. His story is one of my perennial favorites to re-visit as a prelude to each New Year:
As TV networks around the world cycled between the various New Year’s Eve fireworks shows and Millennial celebrations on 1999, one in particular stood out: Sydney, Australia. The famous Sydney Harbor Bridge was emblazoned with the word “Eternity” in illustrious copperplate script that looked hand-written — except it was the size of a giant bridge, of course. For many Christians, the word was a happy reminder of God’s wonderful promises in Christ. For many others, it was a curious sight — especially if the viewer didn’t happen to believe in eternity or Heaven or Hell. People began asking about it, and the story got out. An illiterate alcoholic heard a sermon in the 1940s and was powerfully saved. He was subsequently cured of his alcoholism as he grew in his personal relationship with Christ. One day, he heard a sermon in which the preacher shouted the word “Eternity!” and exclaimed that he wished all of Sydney could hear the word and contemplate where they would be spending eternity. The preacher described it as a one-word-sermon: “Eternity!”
At that moment, a lightning bolt of revelation struck Arthur Stace’s heart. He found some chalk, walked outside, and in beautiful flowing script wrote “Eternity” — even though he had never learned to read or write. He could never explain how he managed to write it, but for the next 35 years he wandered through the streets of Sydney in the nights and early mornings and wrote the word wherever he could — sidewalks, subway walls, buildings, etc. One newspaper estimated that he would go on to write his one-word sermon 500,000 times. The city took notice and newspapers searched for the mysterious “Mr. Eternity,” as they called him. For years, no one could discover his identity or photograph him, and he never stepped forward. Finally, in 1956, a reverend caught him writing the word and obtained his name. Only four photographs were taken of him in 35 years. He was very elusive.
For him, it was his simple way of getting people’s minds focused on spiritual matters so that, hopefully, they would think about their eternal destiny and eventually come to faith in Christ.
It became such a part of Sydney’s lore in the 1900s that in 1999, the city honored Arthur Stace by replicating his handwriting in enormous letters across the city’s most famous bridge. Cameras focused in on that word during the fireworks show, and millions of viewers around the world saw the simple Gospel message of a reformed, illiterate Christian man. One word was all he had to offer to God, but — like Jesus multiplying the boy’s few loaves of bread — God multiplied Arthur’s efforts far beyond anything he could have imagined. His one-word-sermon was preached not just to Sydney, but to millions upon millions of people around the world as the New Millennium began. How’s that for going viral? And all he had was a piece of chalk!
“A lot can be changed in a span of a year. A thousand lives can be molded, a lot of lessons can be learnt and life can show its unpredictability. Even so, one year is enough to prove to yourself that you are worth the struggle that you undertake just to reap a momentary fruit of that labor. If fighting a new fight keeps us motivated each year, so be it. Here is wishing every fighter, struggling to make a break and succeed in life a memorable New Year. Do what you do best and don’t trade your passion for fame but rather earn the fame through your passion. May your fight be fruitful this year and your name engraved in hearts of horde in the form of your work.
A Happy New Year to all my well-wishers, peers, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and readers. May your year be blessed with good fortune and health with added wealth.
My message this New Year is that in a world full of possibilities never limit yourself to the sky for what is sky when there is endless darkness beyond to lighten up? Take care.” – Adhish Mazumde
Have an AWE-full weekend and New Year!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué