New Year Possibilities

The turning of the New Year is one of the oldest celebrations.  From the pyramids in Egypt to Stonehenge to the great cathedrals, there are countless festivals, all celebrating the period from winter solstice to whatever marks the New Year.  The restoring Sun, the renewing, enlivening, restart the year moment is fundamental.

Solstice is written into the design of ruined temples from the ancient Americans and Maya to the design of Egypt's pyramids.  Paying close attention to Solstice is basic to ancient religions.  The "dying" sun of late fall as days get shorter, and the "renewed" promise of the sun NOT dying is a central story, the hope for new life.

New life at New Year?  Only if we make it so!  (And making it so usually depends on some considerable level of grace from God, in Christ, so that we don't do the same dumb stuff all over again!)

For us, this year, it clearly becomes more than just personal.  There is an old half-truth to be left behind this year, if we are to make progress digging up out of the dysfunctional political situation:  "Compromise is an evil."  We need to substitute an understanding that compromise is unavoidable, always.  We need to use it well.  It will happen, we need to work to make it happen for good.

Human nature gathers us into groups.  A positive gathering says:  "We hold these beliefs, together, for the common good."  A self-destructive gathering says:  "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."  This is self-destructive because the compromises involved here have no common, agreed-upon future, only an enemy.  And when the enemy is removed from the formula, the gathering self-destructs.

For this year, let's make our part of whatever groups or discussions we're in a simple matter of positive promotion of the best common future we can imagine.  Let's make every group where we associate a group based on common hopes, rather than common angers.  Let's make 2013 a year where we, minority or not, decide to influence for good.  Let's make a higher intention than just "fitting in".

There is an ancient bargain involved here, the bargain embedded in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  God said to Abraham:  I bless you - go and be a blessing.   Make that your "test-phrase" and there will be a great newness to YOUR New Year.

Blessings!