“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” begins the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Holy Bible.
Through many years of custom the beginning of each New Year has become a time for making resolutions to alter and/or improve some habits or goals for immediate long term personal results usually in physical, social and/or financial status. According to media reports most of today’s resolutions pertain to weight loss or other habits, practices and exercises that alter one’s physical appearance which inevitably changes with time and ends with the grave. Few resolutions are ever heard of, if any, made to enhance one’s spiritual development which extends beyond the grave, launched in condition and speed from this brief earthly plane, our only world of choice.
In the first week of each New Year it’s not too late to resolve or make different resolutions which will have a more positive and lasting effect not only on us individually but on our immediate environment which has a ripple effect. As our learned behavior has programmed us from infancy to compete even with nothing or no one to compete with, wouldn’t it make more sense to resolve to exemplify attitudes and behavior which would be beneficial to ever increasing numbers as our children and youth in particular–when others try to mimic or outdo us? It’s not too late to resolve to engage in activities that promote cooperation rather than competition which inevitably begets rivalry that soon gets out of hand. But such resolutions must be concise and in easily definable and achievable stages. Some suggestions to choose from include…
Resolve to: *Begin and end each day with the reading or reciting of some Holy Writings for spiritual nourishment; * Identify and firmly resolve to consistently do at least one particular thing to make our home a haven of rest and peace; *Adapt to the conversations of others without matching or trying to exceed them with similar situations of our own; *Talk less and listen more, especially to children and youth. Come to grips with a particular prejudice (we all have so many), select one decisive practice toward its elimination and create opportunities to practice them rather than avoiding situations that increase their practice.
Do not make too many habit changing resolutions at once and throughout the year, pray daily for strength to persevere. Do not quit when you have periods of failure. Be patient with yourself–but not to the point of overindulgence. Turn towards God (however you perceive Him) and seek always to do that which is right, selfless and noble and day by day your actions will become beautiful prayers through gradual spiritual transformation.
The most vital duty in this day; we are told in the Baha’i Holy Writings, is to purify our character, to correct our manners and improve our conduct in as much as the purpose of the Manifestation of God is to educate the souls of men and refine the character of every living human being.
