What the New Year Brings

The dawn of any new year is generally met with the anticipation of change. Personal resolutions to improve, whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually, are in abundance. Even though January 1 holds no true significance, it does seem a natural time to start fresh with a clean slate and make changes for the better. Sometimes, our resolutions are actually effective, we do improve in some area, and that is a good thing.

This year seems to be shaping up as one with higher expectations than most in recent memory. And one with greater chances for distractions, as well. Of course, it's election year, but then there's also a considerable number of other potentially alarming theories and observations, including how 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar. Somehow, there's been a major leap in logic to lead many to conclude the end of one cycle on an ancient method of keeping track of time also means it's going to be the end of the world. I might be more inclined to think politics will likely to be end of us all, but that's another matter.

Let us keep level heads and remember, as people of faith, we should not be causing panic or creating tension and fear. Believers are called to live one day at a time and not let the worries of tomorrow enter into the present. We most certainly should not be inventing things to fret about. Despite the hype surrounding 2012, I have found most of my friends and acquaintances are actually excited about what the year ahead has in store.

Most everyone I know has already chosen not to think the worst, but rather to think a shake up of some sort, if it were to happen, isn't necessarily a bad thing. If the world's way of doing things shifted to look a lot more like the Way Jesus had in mind, that most certainly would be good. And that kind of change is not dependent on any calendar, old or new. That kind of change is up to each of us and the choices we make every day.

What the new year brings for our own individual lives is, largely, up to us. Our reaction to and how we deal with that which is beyond our control is entirely up to us. I think this year has the potential to be better by far than last year, don't you?