As the year 2025 comes to a close, many are reflecting on the successes, challenges, blessings, and misfortunes they faced. The question is, how do we qualify successes, blessings, challenges, and misfortunes?
Many people think that being alive, having all the basic needs such as food, shelter, clothes, having properties such as businesses, cars, being powerful and influential, etc., are signs of being blessed or successful. Well, if we think a little bit about what all these things are in themselves, we will realize that we have been wrong all the time. Let me explain. On one hand, people who honor God, love their neighbours and are kind to those in need, get sick, get fired, lose their properties to disasters, are hated, and even lose their loved ones to death. On the other hand, murderers live in good houses, the corrupt drive good cars, those who neither honour God nor have respect for anyone have many herds of cattle, and their farms produce good harvests. The rain and sunshine do not discriminate between those who love God and those who do not. Therefore, we cannot measure success or count blessings based on all the above.
In the Garden of Eden, God had given Adam and Eve all the things they needed. However, they did not enjoy it for a long time because the evil one put doubts in their mind. He told them that all that they had was not enough. He planted in them a wicked desire to become like God (remember, they had been created in the image of God from the very beginning). The devil is the spirit of pride that creates doubt in our consciousness about our identity. His main aim is to make sure that we do not enjoy the good things that God has given us. He always targets the sources of our happiness, peace, and love.
Now, what is true success and blessing? If true success or blessing is not measured by power, influence or the material things we have, what then is the measure? Being peaceful within and without, being happy and contented with what we are and have, loving and being loved are true measures of true success and blessing. Maybe you may want to ask yourself the following questions.
1. Am I happy? What makes me happy? Are the people around me happy? What is in me that makes them happy?
2. Am I peaceful within and without? Is my family peaceful? Do I experience peace at my workplace?
3. Do I experience love now? Who loves me unconditionally? Do I love? Who do I love unconditionally?
Many people fail to make their resolutions, dreams, and plans for the new year come true because of two main reasons. One is that they do not accompany their resolutions, dreams, and plans with tangible strategies and action plans. An action plan involves what I want to do. When do I want to do it? How do I want to do it? What resources do I need to achieve it? Two, they do not involve God in them. God, to many, is like a firefighter. We only involve him when our resolutions do not surface, our dreams do not come true, and our plans do not materialize. Sometimes, we even blame him for not helping us.
God always wants our collaboration in blessing us. We need to demonstrate to him that we are serious about what we want from him. If we want him in our houses, we must open the door to him. If we want him to accompany us in our resolutions, dreams, and plans, we must involve him and stay close to him. The only way to keep close to God is through doing his will. Our resolutions, dreams, and plans also must adhere to his will and plan. God will not help us realize crooked resolutions, evil dreams, or unjust plans. If realizing our resolutions, dreams, and plans puts others in pain, loss, jeopardy, or unpeaceful situations, we can be sure that God will not be involved. Instead, the evil one, whose job is to cause pain, loss, jeopardy, and unrest, will be much more willing to help you succeed.
Dear friends, as we thank God for the past year and usher new year with enthusiasm, let us not forget that it is our decisions and actions that make a year successful, blessed, or otherwise.
Happy New Year.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 