On Living Well in the New Year

At this point, the gifts have all been opened, and the joy (and maybe chaos) of Christmas day has passed. That means our minds have turned towards the coming new year and any resolutions for improving ourselves that we may have in mind. (But remember that Christmas lasts until the Feast of the Epiphany, so keep your lights on and decorations up.) 

If you're still pondering resolutions, there are some thoughts from a recently republished classic Christopher News Note to consider. Its title is, "How Do You Define Success?" and it looks to a famous quote by author Robert Louis Stevenson for inspiration. He wrote, "That person is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent people and the love of children; who has filled a unique niche and accomplished his or her task; who leaves the world better than before, whether by a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of the earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he or she had."

Stevenson reminds us that true self-improvement radiates outward to benefit the lives of others. Sometimes, it can be in small ways, such as with Franklin H. Smith of Brunswick, Georgia. He "lived well," finding contentment in his simple life as a cobbler who repaired the townsfolks' shoes for 44 years. "It doesn't cost me anything to be happy," said Smith, who always greeted each of his customers with a smile and a joke. Because of his positive approach to his job, his work felt satisfying because he enjoyed his craft and loved his neighbors.

On a larger scale, Joe Giron and Manuel Martinez decided to do something about the deterioration of Denve's Westside back in 1971. The unsafe living conditions compelled the men to set up an organization that would help minorities repair their homes with voluntary labor. Over the years, more than 1,000 homes were fixed by Brothers Redevelopment Inc. Additional projects to build and finance houses meant renewed vitality in the once decaying area. Giron said, "We made a commitment to deliver a product that the community needed, and we weren't going to stop until we did. We were set on helping our families, so why not help the entire neighborhood?"

For some people, living well means integrating their faith with their work. Officer Roger Behr of the Austin Police Department was paid to arrest criminals. Deacon Roger Behr gave his time to lead them in prayer. After he joined the diaconate, one of Officer Behr's duties was visiting the county jail. "When you come face to face with these people, you realize they're just another human being, just like me," he said. "They want to know that even though they have screwed up, they are still loved by God."

Belgium's Cardinal Désiré Mercier (1851-1926) once offered the following prayer on living a successful life: "Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore Thee. Guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what to do. Give me Thy orders, and I promise to submit to whatever You desire of me and to accept everything You allow to happen to me. Let me only know Thy will." 

How can we better emulate God's will in the new year? By setting a goal to be as loving, merciful, and selfless as Jesus. Those are the benchmarks for a successful life in this world - and the next.

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers