170 Jan 3
I can’t recall facing a new year with more hope and yet, more trepidation. 2023 has introduced even more fears into our lives and few have lessened. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looks to be permanent, now that international support is fading. There seems to be no doubt that the violence in Gaza will spread to encompass much of the Middle East. It would take a large paragraph to list the other wars now being waged, none of which seem to hold hope of lessening.
For all the talking regarding Climate Change, we are increasing our emissions each day. The disparity between the wealthy and poor only widens. Despair is growing. More of us are tuning out, giving a vacuous Taylor Swift more attention than people of meaning and purpose. A sizable minority still believe that Trump won the last election in the U.S., and he has a good chance at doing it for real, this time. Democracies around the world are in peril. The well funded Christian Right meets with success after success in its quest to reform the world in its small vision of righteous control, and the Press refuses to mention it. Yes, I have more fears for this year than I ever have had before.
Yet, there is reason to hope. People have changed before, quite unexpectedly. Every one of the aforementioned problems could be addressed. I simply must wake up each morning and try to live with that possibility. That’s why I write, and share. Maybe a noticeable number of church-goers will start to follow Jesus. Perhaps more of us will start to put the priorities of the world before cultural goals of ‘getting ahead’ of others, realizing, finally, that we can’t do both, that the only way for our collective survival is to do this thing together.
This will be the year that I push my books. My latest one, The Unspoken Cause of Auschwitz, will be free on Amazon on Feb. 6. 2024 will be the year where I do my best to share my writings with the world. (If you would, spread that news. If I can get several hundred people to order those free books on that one day, I’ll become an Amazon Bestselling Author!) That will bring me joy and excitement. At 82, I’d better get at it.
What a year, to try my best to share words of hope and love, amidst all this violence. Talk about swimming against the current! Those are the cards that are dealt so I’ll do my best to play them.
In this year, let’s all do our best to keep in touch with each other in support and love, even though we might not agree on some things. The world needs us all to be kind, to greet strangers on the street with gladness and to see the best in everything. With hatred, fear and division seeming to surround us, try to make yourselves islands of loving sanity, staying connected to others, to not be swept away. Thanks for staying in contact with me. If I didn’t know others were sharing with me, I doubt if I’d make it.
Anthony, taking this year one day at a time.
