New Year Resolutions

An Orthodox-Catholic Spiritual Father/Mother’s Exhortation to a Penitent before Confession:

“Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession. Wherefore be not ashamed or afraid and conceal nothing from me, but tell without hesitation all things which you have done, and so you shall have pardon from our Lord Jesus Christ. Lo, His holy image is before us, and I am but a witness, bearing testimony before Him of the things which you have to say. But if you shall conceal anything you shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the physician, you depart unhealed” – Traditional Orthodox Exhortation of a Spiritual Father/Mother to a Penitent.

Although not specifically a tradition of our Faith, at this time of year it’s customary to make new year resolutions. The closest tradition to a new year resolution in the Orthodox-Catholic Church is the Holy Mystery of Confession, which is one of the most powerful and healing aspects of the Orthodox Faith that one encounters.

Confession is not simply an obligation or a legal admission of guilt, but rather it is a turning away (metanoia) from the path of selfishness. It is by way of confession that we admit our failures and ask for forgiveness. We acknowledge our sins so that we might both put them behind us and that we night be healed of them. This is not easy, and many times, our pride, shame, guilt, anger or other passions prevent us from dealing with sin in our lives. Confession is not an instant panacea, but rather it is a consistent and repeated remedy for us who are seeking the Light of Christ.

In his spiritual diary, Fr. Alexander Elchaninov writes that confession “springs from an awareness of what is holy, it means dying to sin and coming alive again to sanctity.” It begins with “a searching of the heart.” It moves to a sincere “contrition of the heart.” It is fulfilled in the resolution never to sin again, although realizing that we will fall because our humanity. It is sealed by our subsequent sufferings to remain steadfast in our struggle against sin. Such confession is at the heart of our spiritual efforts.

Confession, like a new year resolution, rarely lasts forever, as the intent is often wishful thinking and unrealistic at times; nevertheless every day is a new day and every minute is a new minute. Saint Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska, instructs: “For our good, for our happiness, at least let us give a vow to ourselves, that from this day, from this hour, from this minute, we shall strive above all else to love God and to do His Holy Will!”

If you really want change and it’s your calling, start this second. Think about all the people that you know that have made a resolution (confession) and consider what percentage of those people actually stick to it. If your friends (and you?) are anything like mine or me, it’s a very low percentage. Why or what do you think is the problem?

A primary problem is that the resolution is NOT inspiring. Yes, it would be great if one could do all this stuff, but if you look closely, resolutions are typically about deprevation… about giving something up. How can one possibly expect to succeed, if one’s focus is entirely on what one is giving up or missing out on? Why should anyone achieve such a goal? I humbly suggest that one make resolutions that are positive (active) rather than negative (restrictive). Research suggests that committing to positive “goals” rather than “resolutions” is 1000% more likely to be achieved. So go ahead, sit down for the new year and set for yourself some awesome positive goals. Love and peace to all!

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