Resolutions for the New Year

​Dear Friends,
    I learned the other day that New York City had hosted a “Good Riddance Day” on December 28. 
    “Good Riddance Day” was a chance to formally let the bad stuff go and move on. To mark this occasion a giant shredder was installed in Times Square in New York City. The process went like this: “write down your unpleasant memory from the past year on a piece of paper, destroy it in the communal shredder and make room for warmer, fuzzier thoughts in 2017.” 
    There is something compelling about this kind of an activity that makes room for private thoughts to be processed in a public space. And who among us would not like a few more warmer and fuzzier thoughts for 2017? 
    If I am honest, the memory from the past year I find most troubling would be that moment when I woke up at 3:30am on the night of the election and checked my smart phone to learn the results; there would be no celebration of the election of the first woman as president of the United States.
    During these past weeks I have struggled to find the words. I have compared the process of coming to terms with this result as to that of a snake attempting to digest an elephant; something that will take time. What I can say now is that I have no desire to add the to acrimony that surrounds this presidential transition.                 That being said here are my rather hodgepodge resolutions for the coming year which I hope will result in warmer, but maybe not fuzzier, thoughts in the new year. I resolve:

• to listen to and attempt to understand those who have differing opinions and experiences;
• to choose one advocacy group and make a small monthly donation;
• to work for the common good and to especially uphold the most vulnerable among us;
• to continue to be well-informed despite the desire to put my head in the sand and to that end purchased a digital subscription to The New York Times;
• to do more things that bring me joy (art, music dace), to appreciate the natural world, to enjoy the company of family and friends and to laugh with others whenever possible;
• to reach out where I can and to make a difference when I can; 
• to be diligent in prayer;
• And finally, I resolve to try new recipes as the old ones have become a bit boring.

    So that’s my list which, when I think about it, could be summed up in one of my favorite benedictions written in 1885 by Henri Frederic Amiel:
Life is short and we have not too much 
time for gladdening the hearts 
of those who are traveling 
the dark way with us. 
O be swift to love! 
Make haste to be kind.
    What are your resolutions? How might you gladden the hearts of those around you? How might you spread God’s light in this weary world?    
    Blessings + peace, Laurie