Ministerial Musings

 

A glorious Happy New Year to all! As many times as I’ve experienced the ending of a year to begin another anew, I never fail to be surprised that another year has come and gone. Here we are again, facing a fresh new year, compiling those resolutions and goals we intend to reach yet again, maybe some that seem to continually be on our list that we never seem to accomplish, and others that we want so badly to happen and have never tried before. A new year presents an opportunity to begin again; as humans we indeed do see it that way.

 

I would like to suggest however that yes, it is a brand new year filled with possibility, but not an opportunity to burden ourselves with those goals or promises to ourselves (or others) that may be impossible to keep. A fresh new year is not the time to pressure ourselves to do those things we may wish to do, but don’t have the resolve to accomplish. I see a fresh new year as a time to reflect on what is most important. I intend to exercise more this year and eat more healthy food. I am not committing to lose weight (as I seem to do these last few years) but to make small changes in my routine and to concentrate on how I am treating my human body. As we get older I’ve noticed others commenting also: we don’t feel the strength in our bodies that we were used to, we don’t feel that energy we once had. So we need to alter those patterns that we’ve been accustomed to following all these years. That is my intention and I thought to myself, it is time to make it known to others so that I may follow it myself. A commitment to myself is just as important as a commitment to others. It seems to be common among us that it’s easier to complete that commitment we make to another than it is to honor the commitment we make to ourselves. When we drop commitments to ourselves, we dishonor ourselves. And yet we do this all the time. It is human, but not necessarily healthy. I have done it over the years and then derided myself for the failure to complete whatever it was I decided to complete. I know I’m not alone. May we take a moment this month, this new fresh year that’s beginning, and commit to only that which we wish to complete. This may cause us to have to say no, to reschedule ourselves, or to dig in and really complete those goals we wish to finish. That’s what it takes. That’s what we need to be whole and give ourselves the self-care we need and want.

 

May you all experience a joyful year in this fresh new month just beginning. May you all enjoy those moments of reflection and calm that you justly deserve. And may you commit to only that which you wish to commit! Have a glorious joyful Happy New Year!!!

 

Blessings to you all,

Rev Jo

 

Please feel free to contact me

By email: minister@mpuuc.org

By phone: 510-972-3890