Resolution or Reconciliation

We are fresh into the new year, 2024, and many times repeatedly the big talk is about making resolutions.  Which is great to do.  That is to make a resolution that would better your life and the life around you.  But I think far too often, these resolution talks get a bit old and redundant.  Because sometimes we make a resolution that will get broken, and the need of the commitment gets ignored as the year progresses.  But I want to offer a change, a challenge, and ask you all to do something different. 
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Instead of making New Year resolutions, how about making New Year reconciliations.  Now the big difference to me about resolutions and reconciliation is that often resolutions offer an escape from last year, or the past and that we try something never done before in the future.  For example, I didn’t work out at all last year, gained some weight, so this year I am going to work out and lose weight.  But reconciliation is about revisiting the past, remembering it, and finding peace, a solution, and a path towards ultimate forgiveness.  That is forgiveness of the self and of other people.  So, reconciliation would be something like, I had a fight with my friend, I lost touch with them, and instead of just getting over it, and letting it go, how about looking at ways to mend the relationship.

Both resolutions and reconciliation are the same in a way that it offers everyone a second chance.  But I think resolutions are far more about the self, while reconciliation can be about other people and the community.  So, I like using the word reconciliation better than resolutions.  Because I think reconciliation is more about other people than yourself.

And I just feel that our world today needs more reconciliation than resolutions.  It’s very difficult to watch anything on social media or television when all I see are people pointing fingers at each other and everyone is trying to hurt or destroy each other.  When as Christians we are taught about God forgiveness of sins and that God loves us no matter the circumstance and that Jesus Christ taught us that we should do the same to others as God has done the same for us. 

Reconciliation does not mean that we accept bad behavior or turn a blind eye on injustice or moral and ethical issues.  It just simply means that we recognize that we are living in a very broken world that is in need of admitting sinfulness (which we all should do…nobody is perfect, and nobody lives perfect lives), instead of judging someone, we show kindness and compassion even if we still find ourselves in disagreement and recognize that all people need and deserve forgiveness and a second chance.

Now, let us begin 2024 by mending our broken hearts.  Now even if there is a relationship that you had that is broken, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to repair it… sometimes it is about letting go and finding peace with ourselves just so that the next person we meet (friend, family, or special someone) we can treat them with dignity, respect, and compassion.  2024 is all about reconciliation and finding peace.  May that be our mission.

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