大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Rabbi Julia Neuberger

Good morning.

This is the last day of January. Named after the Roman god Janus, who was usually depicted as having two heads, one facing in each direction, January often gives us time to reflect. We say Happy New Year, but it鈥檚 really only as January gets under way that we look back at the previous year properly, and look forward to the next. New Year鈥檚 resolutions have either been long broken by now, or are beginning to grip. The nature of the upcoming year is becoming clearer. Christmas, chanukkah and other festivities are over and it鈥檚 back to the normal daily grind.

But before we get into February I usually do a simple audit, in an old-fashioned notebook, about what I feel about the past year- pretty horrible in fact, with wars everywhere. And what I hope for the coming year- peace, friendship, a different way for the world鈥檚 leaders to deal with its disagreements. I look at it personally, too. No, I didn鈥檛 lose weight despite my best intentions. But I did read more serious books. I gave more to charity, and I saw more of friends and family. Simple, almost boring. But so important for us to have the discipline to look at what was and to make resolutions, and KEEP them, even when there鈥檚 no certainty about what the year will bring. It鈥檚 the changeover time. In the Hebrew Bible, the failing Moses tells his successor Joshua to be strong and of good courage. As we leave the end of January and enter the fullness of 2025, I think we should say that to ourselves too, to help us face the future with calm and resolve. Let us be strong, and of good courage, and be prepared to meet life鈥檚 challenges with calm spirits and clear minds.

Amen.