Courage to Hope
I am a full-on New Years sucker. I am the resolution-making Queen, the patron saint of new beginnings, do-overs, and fresh starts. I love New Years - I have never missed a midnight ball-drop in all of my teenage or adult years. I have friends who scoff at my “new year, new me” attitude but I am generally too busy setting goals to hear them. I have friends who hold to the idea that most resolutions have been abandoned by the end of the month - and maybe that does happen sometimes, but having the guts to want to better oneself or the world and try (even for a little while) is hardly a crime. I can think of way worse things for a person to do!
Perhaps the best part of New Years happens right as the clock strikes 12 - in that one moment there’s a certain magic. There’s a sense of leaving things behind - things that we’ve outgrown, things that no longer do anyone any good, failures and missteps - and an overwhelming sense of excitement for all of the potential the next year holds. It’s this potential that we celebrate - it’s this potential that bids us to raise our glasses, to kiss our loved ones, to blow our noisemakers. It’s hope - sheer hope!
“So as we step into 2022, may you rest knowing that you’re loved just as you are, but still have the guts to set a goal. ”
It’s because of this celebration of hope that I am convinced that our faith automatically makes us New Years people. After all, we are called to be joyful in hope. Life is so short - I never want to miss an opportunity to put things of the past where they belong and to step forward in newness and hope. I think our faith asks that of us, not just on New Years but every day.
My resolution this year is centered around honoring the imago dei, the image of God, in myself and in everyone with whom I come in contact. This takes on many practical forms, of course, but the underlying sentiment is hope - hope and faith that some day, the image of God will be recognized and honored in everyone by everyone - hope that maybe I can help make that happen by starting with myself.
So as we step into 2022, may you rest knowing that you’re loved just as you are, but still have the guts to set a goal. May you be filled with hope and anticipation for what is to come. May you lay down the former things so that you can strive toward what is ahead. May you have the courage to hope.
Amen.
