New Year, New Beginnings
Happy New Year, everyone! We are officially in the second quarter of the 21st century. In our Latino culture, there is a tradition of making resolutions for the new year ahead. There are even some common rituals, such as eating 12 grapes, sweeping and cleaning the house, throwing water out the window, making rag dolls that are burned on the last day of the year to leave the bad behind, and some humorous rituals, such as wearing different colored underwear to attract health, money, and love. In Colombia, there is one particular thing some people do that leaves people from other cultures stunned: they go out with an empty suitcase to walk the block where they live, to attract new trips, adventures, and many possibilities.
In short, all these traditions aim to strengthen motivation and determination to have good intentions for the new year. And that’s a good thing, because every day is new and gives us the opportunity to pursue our dreams. I have asked myself: How often do we achieve what we set out to do? Looking for information on this, I came across a 1989 study that tracked what people set out to do at the beginning of the year. The results were: “77% kept their resolutions for a week, 55% for a month, and 40% made it to six months. After two years of follow-up, only 19% remained steadfast” (Daniel Mediavilla, Jan. 7, 2025, Elpais.com). With these statistics, well done to the 19%: congratulations! Now, I want to write about the 81% of people who abandon their resolutions. I believe I am included in that large percentage, because if I count all the resolutions I have made before, I would probably have reached the moon by now. I want to bring up a biblical passage for reflection: Matthew 18:21-35, where the apostle Peter asks Jesus how many times one should forgive, and Jesus replies: 70 times 7. With this, Jesus wants to tell us that we should forgive whenever possible. Therefore, we must also apply this forgiveness to ourselves, because we can often feel guilty and feel like a failure when we cannot fulfill the promises we dream will make us better. Therefore, the fact that we sometimes fall short of our goals does not mean that we should stop dreaming and aspiring to new purposes. We are human beings, and we often make mistakes and fail, even if we intend not to. The key is not to give up, to be kind, and to forgive ourselves whenever necessary. As Nelson Mandela’s famous quote says, “The greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Finally, let us be assured that God is with us, loves us, cares for us, and wants the best for us so that we may be happy and shine light on others. Therefore, let us keep trying again, even if we must do so 70 times 7, even if we have to pause or redirect our aspirations along the way. Rev. Israel Portilla-Gómez (He/him/his) is Associate Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 2222 E Tudor Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507. [email protected]. (907) 563-3341. Ext. 13. |