Some years ago, in his book, The Joy of Being Human, Eugene Kennedy suggested that January was a strange time for beginning a new year, or beginning anything, especially in northern climates. We are surrounded by ice and snow. The weather is cold. Dusk still comes rather early. Things seem rather bleak.

And we Christians have already begun our Church year with the First Sunday of Advent, some weeks ago. But in the civil calendar, we start again with January and so we carry on with that. With the New Year, therefore, there is the sense of time moving on. Looking back, you may think of all the resolutions made and consider how that has worked out.

Something is always beginning or ending. Recently, we had a presidential election. One presidency is ending, another beginning. There were lots of strong thoughts and feelings during the campaign, both sides wondering how the other could possibly vote for such a person!

These reflections are not meant to be political statements. Yet, as people of prayer and religion, we bring these aspects of our lives into our political thought. If we are sincere, we have to let our faith stance affect our political thinking. I say “have to” because we can’t avoid it. If we take our spirituality seriously, it is an important part of who we are. If we try to separate the two, that would seem to bring its own trouble. “Not to decide is to decide.”

I have struggled with my thoughts and feelings during this whole political season. As Christians, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves – even to love our enemies, if anyone can be seen as an “enemy.”

Maybe the struggle is between “love” and “like.” We can make a rational choice to love, as in wishing well, basically, for the other. But there have been some characters in recent politics whom I found it very hard to like.

And so, as the New Year, and the new presidency begin, what is the Christian, the praying person, to do? As always, be careful of our own biases and prejudices; pray for all concerned; pray that our leaders can honestly work for the common good and not merely for their own ambitions. Often, that seems a high expectation.

So, here we go. It is January. It is winter. It is the time of a new administration. Happy and Blessed New Year!

– Fr. Tom Zelinski