5
NEW YEAR NEW LIFE?
There is something special about that moment when the clock
strikes midnight and announces the end of a year and the
start of a new one. Many see it as an opportunity to wipe the
slate clean and start over but very few realise that the change
in the calendar doesn’t guarantee a brand-new life. This is
because, ultimately, what really determines a person’s quality
of life is the choices they make.
F
or many years, Mark Higgins’
choices led him down a dark
path. Gangs and illegal ways of
making money resulted in him getting
stabbed. This incident scared him and
left him paranoid and depressed.
“At the time, I had completely turned
my back on God and I was almost
angry with Him”, he said. “For some
reason, I thought, ‘Why did you allow
this to happen?’ However, at the same
time, I needed Him.
I wanted change. I wanted the New
Year to be the beginning of a new life,
so when I was invited to the New Year’s
Eve Night vigil, I accepted.
What I heard at the night vigil was so
powerful that it almost brought me to
tears; I was inspired to make a change
and decided that I would start a new
chapter in my life.
The Bishop spoke to me after the vigil.
He took a photograph with me and said
that, at the next New Year’s Night Vigil,
we would take another photo together
and that I would have completely
changed by then.”
That night, Mark decided to put his
past behind him and start afresh but
what waited for him outside would put
this new-found trust in God to the test.
As he left the church, he was violently
attacked again. For many people,
this could have been a cause for
resentment and a reason to turn back
on their decision; however, for Mark,
this affirmed how much he wanted and
needed God in his life.
“I still came back to the Church and,
even though it was very difficult, I
remained faithful. I attended the
services and made sure that I went the
extra mile and occupied myself
with things related to God. I cut
off people in my life who were
bad for me and focused on
dealing with my anger.
It’s coming up to a year since
I decided to actively make a
change in my life, and I am a
completely different from who
I was a year ago.
In the past, I had been to
counselling, I had been
assigned to a mentor, and
I had also attended youth
offenders; however, through
it all, God played the biggest
part in my transformation.
God gave me hope and
reassurance in a way I had
never experienced before.
He is with me regardless of
my imperfections.
What keeps me motivated
today is my family; I saw
how much my previous life
was taking a toll on them,
and I never want to put them
through that again. Today, I
am a role model in my house,
and seeing them happy fills me
with peace.
For anyone else experiencing a
similar situation, my biggest piece
of advice would be to believe
that you are capable of leaving
that life behind; the longer you
leave it, the harder it becomes.
Change is not impossible; I
surrendered to God, and now
the life I live is one of honour.”
Mark Higgins