It is almost New Years Eve, almost New Years Day, those times when we humans like to make resolutions. We notice, as we return on Jan. 2 to the aerobics classes we neglected during the holidays (and, truth told, some other times, too), that the classes are really full. We see more people in the produce department of our grocery store, not the cookie department. Were buying kale, too, not pastry. Smokers are determined to stop practicing their habit; the ranks of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are swelled, as over-drinkers declare their intention to quit.

And yet, Mark Twain said, New Years Day, now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

Alas, we see that he is right, as enthusiastic resolvers drop by the wayside. Our exercise classes go back to their usual sizes (with or without us). The Weight Watchers and AA meetings lose many of the exuberant folk determined to change their ways.

To make it worse, I am reminded by some that calendars are human inventions, anyhow, so why should we bother coming up with resolutions in January, when any number of other times during the year would be just as good?

Actually, those cynical-sounding people are at least sort of right. But I will argue for taking our commonly-agreed-upon New Year seriously, using it as an opportunity to resolve in ways that are more significant than habits of eat and drink and exercise. The New Year is a powerful symbol of renewal, and symbols systems are, in fact, vital to us. Maybe, if we use the New Year opportunity to examine our hearts about how loving and generous we are, we wont fall completely by the resolution wayside.

Humans need to reflect deeply upon purpose and meaning. We ache to ponder the human condition, the religious questions: Why are we born, just to die a few short years later? How do we live, that we may make the best of this little span? How will we be remembered? Will we be remembered? What makes life worthwhile? Is love our companion? Who or what guides our life, and do we take this guidance seriously?

What if we take this New Year opportunity to sit still, to talk with loved ones, to pray, to ponder: What have we done that will be remembered with gratitude in the years to come? More importantly, what are we doing, right now, to increase the store of love in this world? How can we do more?

Sure, lets go to those spinning classes and eat healthy soups and practice moderation. There is nothing wrong with those worthy goals.

At the same time, though, let us use our New Year opportunity to ask and answer our spiritual questions. Let us, at the end of this old year, make our deepest resolutions aim toward caring, justice, harmony, compassion. Let us, as we enter 2015, examine our hearts and resolve to love better.

May it be so.

Continued here:
Pastor's Corner: Make New Year's Renewals, Not Resolutions