THE ECLECTIC CLERIC - “Meditation on a New Year”

The beginning of a new year is a natural time to begin thinking as well about making fresh starts: turning over a new leaf, breaking bad habits, stepping up to the next level. Traditionally, on New Year’s Eve we ring out the old and ring in the new, and set forth with great resolve to change our lives for the better. And yet, we are wise to remember that the Roman deity Janus (for whom January is named) was a two-faced god: retrospective as well as forward-thinking, nostalgic as much as progressive. Similarly, sometimes the way ahead is best discerned by a good, hard look at the past. And sometimes the most effective way of changing for the better is to keep doing more of what we already do well.

The plain truth is that big, dramatic changes rarely take root and thrive right from the start. Major change is generally grounded in an extensive foundation of smaller, incremental changes, interspersed with numerous false starts and failures. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know. And even though the Emperor Nero was able to burn it to the ground overnight, it wasn’t rebuilt in a day either.

I’m not suggesting that it’s wrong to dream big dreams, or to make big plans, or even to harbor grandiose ambitions. But the great thing about starting small as that at least you’ve started. Envisioning the big picture is an important first step. But generally it’s patience, persistence, and tenacity that gets us through to the final one. And in between, it’s one foot in front of the other, step-by-step until we reach at least reach our goal.

Here’s one small step I hope every member of First Parish will take this year. You’ve heard me speak before about the “Ministry of Hospitality,” and how important it is to welcome newcomers into our faith community just as we would welcome guests into our homes. But why stop there? What about reaching out to our friends in the larger community, and inviting them to experience for themselves what First Parish has to offer? Many UU congregations around the country host an annual “Bring a Friend” Sunday, when current church members are encouraged to – you guessed it – bring their friends. But here at First Parish, I would like to make EVERY Sunday “bring a friend” Sunday. Because this is how communities grow: one friendship at a time.

The beginning of a New Year is a natural time for people who wish to deepen their own spiritual lives to start thinking about attending church again. If you have a friend who you think might appreciate and benefit from what we do here at First Parish day in and day out, there’s no better time than the present to invite them to accompany you to a Sunday Service. And if each of us will resolve to do this at least once this year…well, you can just imagine how many more of us will be members of this congregation next year at this time....

May you all be abundantly blessed in the year to come……………twj