Whether you are a resolution person or not, the start of a new year affords all of us the opportunity to reflect upon and set some intentions for how we want to show up in 2025: the kind of energy we want to manifest and bring to others; where we want to commit our time, energy and resources; and the kind of human we want to be in our relationships with others. I think it is helpful to exercise some agency this way–otherwise, it is very easy to just end up reacting to people/events/conversations/situations in ways you wouldn’t necessarily choose. [We can get pushed into unhelpful postures and attitudes pretty easily when we are frustrated, defensive, angry, etc.]
One of the things I am committing to bringing into 2025 is hope. I think the world needs hope more now than ever: hope that comes from the knowledge that we can impact the world, in both small and large positive ways–our actions can make a difference; hope that comes from the knowledge that there is good in the world that we can kindle and flame–and that good is stronger than evil; and, of course, the hope that comes from the sure knowledge that our loving God is at work always in all things, in ways we cannot always see or understand, fostering life and life abundant for the whole creation. Hope is a practice, hope is a habit, and hope is tenacious and resilient–and it is surprisingly powerful.
I have actually been thinking about the power of hope for several weeks now, since attending the ATS (Association of Theological Schools) Executive Leadership Event in early December. It is a good conference, and I always meet interesting people with interesting backgrounds, doing exciting, creative work. Amidst all of the insightful professional presentations, my favorite takeaway actually was a story I heard from a colleague the first night I was there, in informal conversation at dinner. We were talking about the election, and she told me that her 15-year-old niece had called her a few days after the election to check in on her and see how she was doing (which is amazingly sweet and thoughtful in and of itself). And, in the course of their conversation, she told her aunt that she and her friends had banded together and decided that they were going to work for hope, and they were going to do whatever they could do to inject hope into the world. They were calling themselves “hope warriors.”
Hope warriors. Again, this is a group of 15 year-old girls, not only choosing hope, but committing to hopeful actions, hopeful words, and hopeful intentions–even in the face of situations that can often feel hopeless.
I’m not going to lie–I teared up a bit at the table, just hearing this story.
Friends, if a group of 15 year-old girls can choose hope, you and I can choose it as well. And, whether or not you like the “warrior” imagery [personally, I think of Wonder Woman and the Amazons and I’m OK with it], I think the commitment to being a vehicle of hope, a hope-bearer, a hope-sharer, is a fantastic intention for 2025.
Whatever else you choose for 2025, let hope be a part of your journey. May you find hope yourself, and be the hope others need this year.
Happy Lutheran 