{"id":23989,"date":"2025-01-07T17:44:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T01:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/?p=23989"},"modified":"2025-01-07T17:56:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T01:56:42","slug":"new-year-new-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/new-year-new-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"New year, new choices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People often begin the new year with hopes, goals, and resolutions (at least for a few weeks). For some, 2025 holds both opportunity and promise; for others, it may represent uncertainty and a fair amount of trepidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At church this week, Auburn First UMC attendees received a small card with a \u201cStar Word\u201d to guide their spiritual reflection in 2025. The practice of giving out a word or symbolic gift on Epiphany has become increasingly popular in some Protestant churches. My word? Choice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word made me pause, reminding me of a related theological principle I hold. You\u2019ve probably heard the phrase, \u201cWith great power comes great responsibility.\u201d Originally attributed to Voltaire, I first encountered it in the story of Spider-Man but made the connection to Jesus\u2019 practical teachings (e.g., Luke 12:48) when I was in seminary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Star Word caused me to wonder: How often do I acknowledge the power and responsibility of choice in my daily life? When I\u2019m stressed, overwhelmed, or simply uninspired, it\u2019s easy to imagine that I am powerless; a cog in the wheel, a mid-level manager, a victim of powers beyond me. And while it is true that I do not control the universe, I suspect I give up my agency in things far too easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I also wondered: How often do I assume others have the same level of privilege to make similar choices about things both important and mundane? In a UM News Commentary this week<\/a>, the Rev. Dr. Rebekah Miles touched on this as she explained why she was coming out as bisexual:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy come out now? My kids remind me that people with privilege and security (like tenured full professors) should use their privilege well. \u201cMany people can\u2019t be out now because they fear violence and discrimination,\u201d my kids tell me. \u201cThis is a hard time to be gay.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As disciples of Christ, we are called to make choices rooted in love, justice, and grace. The freedom we have in Christ is only experienced when we embrace this calling and the agency and responsibility it brings. As Miles expresses, choosing to live into our freedom can make space for others to do the same, a gift that may be of great value in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as a generous person, I\u2019d love to share my \u201cStar Card\u201d with you, especially if you didn\u2019t get one of your own. Knowing that this may be a challenging year for many, let us consider how we can choose kindness when it\u2019s easier to remain indifferent, action when apathy feels tempting, and faith when our experiences cause us to doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May we be emboldened to choose the freedom we have in Christ so that we can be a gift to others, especially for those who cannot take for granted choice<\/em> in the new year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we step into 2025, what word will guide your journey? PNW Conference Director of Communications Patrick Scriven shares that he is reflecting on the word ‘choice’ causing him to consider how connected our actions (and inactions) are to the freedoms and responsibilities we have as followers of Jesus. What choices will you make this year?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23989","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-opinioneditorial","8":"category-pacific-northwest-conference"},"yoast_head":"\nNew year, new choices - Greater Northwest Area | News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/new-year-new-choices\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New year, new choices - Greater Northwest Area | News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As we step into 2025, what word will guide your journey? 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