Go Through

By Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

January, 2019

I’m often aware how many “new years” we celebrate in Unitarian Universalist churches.

Of course the calendar new year begins in January.

But our liturgical year or “church year” begins in September with the first Sunday after Labor Day and our Ingathering service.  We’re only a few months started.

Our fiscal year, the year for the business of the church begins on June 1 each year.  So we’re only halfway through that year.

We recognize other “new years” also.  In the Christian tradition the year begins and ends with the season of Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas Day.  The Jewish tradition has several different new years depending on what you’re counting, the holiday of Rosh Hashanah (usually in September) being only one.  Many cultures celebrate new year in mid-winter, based on cycles of the moon.  Another common “new year” is the first day of spring, based on cycles of the sun.

The feeling is that there’s always a new year coming, whenever we need one.  Always a new opportunity to make a change, to make a new beginning, to get something started or to leave behind a habit that no longer serves our happiness and health.

But we’re also, always, in the midst of a year.  One calendar is showing a new beginning, while we’re also in the middle of another year, just getting started on a different year, coming near an ending on yet another.

I take this confusion about beginnings and endings as a spiritual gift.  It means that whatever I need:  a fresh start, a definite stop, gathering energy, more hard work, or a chance to make a respectful close, it’s always possible and always the right time to do it.  Whatever I need.  Whatever the date on the calendar.

Perhaps this January, you’re ready to make an intentional beginning on some new project or some new habit of living you want to adopt.  Perhaps as 2018 becomes past, you’re ready to leave something behind, a hurt you no longer want to carry or an unhealthy relationship that requires a clear, “good-bye”.

Name those intentions for yourself, those beginnings, those endings.  But recognize also the good work you’ve already begun that you want to continue, the already productive areas that need increased attention, and the areas where you see the end is near but need a little more from you yet before you can properly finish them.  Leave those for another new year, there’s always a new year coming.