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Religion
Published 12:00pm Friday, January 2, 2009With this week, we begin a new year 2009. What will it bring?
What will you take with you from the old into the new? What will you be leaving behind?
Since about 450 BC, the Romans have named this opening month of the new year January.
January is named for Janus, the god of the doorway. This name had its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianud) — January is the door to the year.
Traditionally it is a time for New Year’s resolutions. What will we do this new year we didn’t get around to in the old? My new year’s resolution is to finally get some regular exercise and lose a few pounds (who among us doesn’t need to do that?) and do some strength-building for my muscles.
I went out and bought a three-month health club membership, bought a new duffel bag and exercise suit, in short, I spent about $200 thinking if I put my money behind it then I will surely do it.
Well, so far, it has worked pretty well, but I am told if you want to make it a habit it will take more than money — it will take at least three weeks of concerted effort.
What have you decided to walk through the doorway to do in 2009? For some of us maybe it more what we won’t do — like leave behind that chip on our shoulder or that bitterness that has been eating away at us over something that long ago should have been forgotten.
Maybe it’s leaving behind the dessert when it comes that time at the dinner table.
Or maybe it is leaving that bad habit or rut that we know isn’t good for us either physically, spiritually or emotionally.
It certainly doesn’t hurt to resolve to do something better in the new year like being a little more forgiving or never walking past a Salvation Army kettle without remembering to put something in it.
How much the world (and our own lives) need a little more caring, a little more love. This is the year to begin.
January is here, one door closes and a new one opens. What do you want to bring into 2009 that will make a difference? Why not begin today.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. ” — Ecclesiastes3:l
