New Year's Day 2013

As 2012 comes to a close, many of us pause to reflect. Some may reflect on the past with hopes that the future will be better. Some will essentially focus on the future without attending much to what is now the past. Maybe, most of us do some of each as well as think about the fact that time, itself, is precious and that which remains, is slight compared to what is the relatively long past.

At this moment, I am struck by the fact that I live in peace and love.

I find this situation somewhat anomalous since I spend so much time focusing of rather problematic situations. I am constantly frustrated by “stupid” behavior, exhibited by otherwise intelligent people who are generally referenced as our political representatives. I am saddened by the senseless violence and war that tears the fabrics of so many societies. It dismays me to no end that religion is the precipitating stimulus for killing others. The Newtown tragedy is repeated endlessly in less dramatic fashion, but for each child suffering abuse, there are more than tears of pain.

In this world where so much is wrong, I live in peace and love. It makes no sense that there is such disparity. It disturbs me knowing that I am a fortunate person.

I know that it is unrealistic to consider throwing away my life circumstances. I am thankful every moment for what I have: a beautiful, caring, and talented wife, children that give as much as they have received, grandchildren to remind me that the future is precious, a world that still is so beautiful in spite of so much neglect.

As the New Year begins, I can hope that steps toward restoring the virtue of fostering the common good will take hold, that more will want to share, and people will look at one another as members of the great human family.

And now, I watch the sun emerging once again to bless us with another day.