New beginnings in the family and business

In the aftermath of ten plagues brought upon the Egyptians, the Israelites are finally leaving Egypt after decades spent in slavery. And the Egyptians want them to leave, giving the Israelites gold and jewelry on the way out. The Israelites are reminded several times to remember this historic day:

Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. (Exodus 13:3-5)

To finally break the bonds of slavery, to leave a perilous life for a promised land, had to be exciting. It was a new beginning for the Israelites, a chance to start fresh, to begin anew. The path out of Egypt will be through the wilderness, and soon enough it will become difficult. But right now, leaving Egypt for a land flowing with milk and honey is a cause for celebration and remembrance.

“New beginnings” are a fitting reflection at the start of a new year; they happen all the time in families and family businesses. Some new beginnings involve the business: a change in strategy or the start of a new enterprise or partnership, or the inclusion of a new generation. Some involve family members: graduations, marriages, the birth of kids or grandkids, even the improvement in a relationship. Some new beginnings are personal: a change in perspective, a deepening sense of purpose, a change in your role or new commitments to important people or institutions.

Can you recall the anticipation and excitement at the beginning of a journey, a new commitment, or at the dawn of a fresh start? As we leave 2024, what new beginnings are you excited about for the coming year?