Just the other day I was thinking about how quickly this year has zoomed by and the time honored tradition of celebrating each new year as it rolls around. We celebrate in different ways. The extremes can range from being part of the large, crushing crowd at Times Square in New York to a quiet evening spent at home celebrating with family or friends or even by yourself.

Although we all have our own traditional ways of welcoming in the New Year, I think we all probably share in the feeling that the first of January gives us all a “fresh start.” Isn’t that the thought behind New Year’s Eve resolutions: to break old, bad habits or start new, good ones? We make promises about things we want to change about ourselves...eat better, get in shape, start a savings account, make the bed each morning before going to work. From the trivial to the serious, we make promises to ourselves that we are rarely able to keep.

I think the problem is that we are so busy focusing on ourselves that we miss the big picture. And that is that God doesn’t really care if we are thinner, have a savings account, or make the bed in the morning.  What God wants us to know in the deepest part of who we are is that we are loved unconditionally. Most of us know this intellectually. But integrating that knowledge into the deepest part of our souls is a whole different matter. I believe that if we really understand the depth of God’s love for us, we will take better care of ourselves and better care of each other —- and there won’t be any need for New Year’s resolutions.

Well, except this one: I resolve to remind myself that God loves me unconditionally at least once each day.

Deep Peace,

Mother Michael+