On the Newness of the Year: A New Year's Wish.

I’ve recently started thinking about building a new door into my house, one that would lead directly out to the garden, so that neither I nor my elderly dog would have to climb the ramp to the back deck. This may never come to pass, due to lack of finances, but it touches off ideas about doors and gateways, entrances and exits, New Years and old ones.

            The Roman god Janus, who gave his name to January, was of course the god of beginnings as well as of gates. He held the key to the past as well as the future. He not only governed the gate, he was the gate, through which everyone passed into wise or dangerous times. So he was two-faced, naturally. So important was the gate, that Janus was invoked before all other gods, because what comes at the beginning is the first and thus most honoured,

            When we pass the gate of the New Year, do we really get a brand new year without any mistakes in it? What can we carry over the threshold? A lot seems to come with us. Egyptian Christians have appealed to the world that on this 31 December 2013 they’ll be attacked by their compatriots, bringing violence and destruction across the line from old year to new. That they can know the date is chilling; others have known the date before them and the world has done nothing to help. Should we feel pity and fear, as Aristotle said of tragedy, at the turning of each year? Instead of celebrating it with fireworks and champagne? Is the year ever new?

            In spite of danger and decline, people still are inspired to set New Year’s resolutions and try to carry them out. Why do we make so many mistakes, anyway?

Generally because we’re either half asleep, not paying proper attention, or full of expectations about our own alertness: probably both at the same time. We lack a clear assessment of our limitations. Our limitations travel with us, into the New Year for sure, and Proust seemed to believe that our mistakes and limitations defined our character: hence their repetitive nature.

            What chance do we have of realising our dreams, reaching our goals, slowing down, finding the love of our life, seeing the world, making a difference, or any of a hundred other designs and resolutions, in the New Year? Will we have time to take up painting and poetry for pleasure, like Noel Coward (in the midst of writing and performing in hit shows and films all year long)? Can we beget a dynasty? Will we put our financial house in order, mend the roof, forgive our enemies and move on? All of this is in process, and we do the best we can with it, taking our faults and failings with us as part of the ballast.

            Another one who, like Janus, not only controlled the gate, but is the gate, is Jesus, who in John’s Gospel spoke these words: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” In contrast to those who steal, kill and destroy, Jesus carries across the threshold life, abundant life. All of our dreams, resolutions, emotions, ambitions, limitations and devotions amount to this: they are life. May you have, in the New Year, abundant life.