A new year can bring a flurry of opportunities, new visioning, and maybe the desire to energize whatever has been lying dormant in our lives. Sometimes it is easy to move into new territory. Other times we are gripped with the bad news of our past and present situation causing fear and trepidation which can overwhelm us. What if it doesn’t work out? What if we get hurt?
Rev. Venida shares that maybe 2026 is really the time to simply breathe, all the while creating a new narrative and vision for how we can move forward with grace and courage. Maybe in this new year, we can begin to surround ourselves with the Good News of Jesus, the Good News of what really is possible—for ourselves, our respective relationships, communities, and for this church. Maybe it is time to recognize that, as her pastor once told her, “God does the heavy lifting.” Perhaps insisting on hope is the realization that: Yes, she does!