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For the most part, New year’s Day is welcomed with relief and anticipation of a fresh start, a clean slate. An occasion for sincere, but mostly unrealistic, resolutions.
For reasons I struggle to explain, this New Year has a different vibe for me. 2023 emerged ominously as the ball dropped at midnight. Perhaps Ohio State’s missed field goal at the stroke of midnight was prescient, so much hope dashed in reality. Happy New Year ?
Thinking about 2023, I realized that it is not a clean slate, nor a fresh start but is more akin to a roundabout in a continuing journey. As such, there are several possibilities — a new direction —proceed with minimal disruption —or, confused, loop back, re-routing to 2022.
Of the those possibilities, the most desirable, but unlikeliest is minimal disruption. Re-routing to 2022 is not practical nor healthy. New direction is attractive but requires forethought snd strategic planning, neither of which has happened.
I am entering 2023 with baggage from 2022 and anticipate of new challenges. Certain about my destination, I’m still seeking clarity on directions. This quote from Thomas Merton gives much needed perspective for the New Year.

I have been absurdly burdened since the beginning of the year with the illusions of “great responsibility” and of a task to be done. Actually whatever work is to be done is God’s work and not mine, and I will not help matters, only hinder them, by too much care.

Thomas Merton

LOOKING AHEAD

ChatGPT
The arrival of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a program that generates sophisticated text in response to any prompt you can imagine, may signal the end of writing assignments altogether—and maybe even the end of writing as a gatekeeper, a metric for intelligence, a teachable skill.
The implications of ChatGPT are mind-boggling. I have signed up. Perhaps it is the answer to my blog slog? Feeling discouraged about my blogging, prompted ChatGPT with “Reasons why elderly persons should utilize a blog site.”

This is the response it provided:

Reasons why elderly persons should utilize a blog site

1. To stay connected with friends and family: Many elderly individuals may be unable to physically visit with their loved ones as often as they would like, but a blog allows them to share updates and keep in touch with those they care about.
2. To express their thoughts and feelings: Blogging can be a therapeutic outlet for elderly individuals, allowing them to express their thoughts and emotions in a safe and supportive space.
3. To share their experiences and wisdom: Elderly individuals often have a wealth of life experiences and wisdom to share, and a blog is a great platform for sharing those stories with a wider audience.
4. To stay engaged and active: Blogging requires the use of technology and can help elderly individuals stay engaged and active, both mentally and physically.
5. To maintain a sense of independence: A blog allows elderly individuals to have a sense of independence and control over their own content, allowing them to share what they choose and interact with others on their own terms.
6. To stay current and informed: A blog can provide elderly individuals with access to current events, news, and other information that they may not have access to otherwise.

Keep in mind this response was generated by artificial intelligence, nothing from me but the prompt. It is unreasonable to imagine my future posts could be responses from ChatGPT to a particular prompt? No more blog slog? 🙂 Lots of questions. Would that be unethical on my part? What if I disclosed the post content was from ChatGPT?
I really like the ChatGPT response above, it was helpful in thinking about writing a blog at my age. It is definitely cogent. Would it qualify as wisdom? How is that response different from doing a Google search on a topic and compiling the results? Would attribution to ChatGPT make a difference? How can writing be trusted to be original?

Based on the attention ChatGPT has gotten in media, it to will definitely be conspicuous in 2023.

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2022 BAGGAGE

Like many people, 2022 was a challenging personally. Unlike previous years where the new year was greeted with a sight of relief and “Thank God, it’s over!”. For me, 2023 inherits baggage from 2022. Over the course of 2022 there were numerous issues, questions and challenges worthy of — prayer, writing, study, conversation — that were not satisfactorily addressed and remain for 2023. What lies ahead in 2023 could make all of the 2022 baggage moot, but I intend to engage them in the coming year.

Spiritual Formation
Challenged by readings, experiences and conversations related to spiritual formation over the past year, the subject remains a high personal priority for 2023.

War on Reality
An essay started in2022 and originally entitled “What is True and Real?” then renamed “War on Reality” is in my writing cue. Highly relevant to our chaotic culture, I hope to finish it in the 1st quarter of 2023.

THE CHURCH
16 posts in this category over the past two years has not diminished my interest and concern for the church.

Euthanasia
A seldom discussed subject that is increasingly important in our post-modern secular society.

Conversation as a Spiritual Discipline
“the most loving thing one can do is have a meaningful conversation.”
Heather Holleman

Penal Substitutionary Atonement
A long held faith principle has come under scrutiny and a subject of personal interest.

Patriarchy and Masculinity
Critically important subjects for the Church and society.

Book Bag
I’m taking my 2022 book bag with me in 2023. It includes books read, current reading and planned to read. As you can see, some of them relate to the 2022 “baggage”.

STILL ON THE JOURNEY