Joyful dawn
On this day of reflection, nature was patterned after our feelings, showing its deep, gentle kinship with us.
The first sunrise of 2021 breaks forth in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Today, it was a hopeful dawn. We saw the brilliant sun, and felt buoyant joy to see the new year.
On this day of reflection, nature was patterned after our feelings, showing its deep, gentle kinship with us. The earth went sleepily through the night, after the change in weather chilled it to the core, and yet it was ever more covered in light as the new day drew closer. It was calm. Life slowed down and poured joy into the day. As my wife and I took a stroll downtown this afternoon, others did the same, and a relaxed atmosphere permeated the world around us. Light was present.
In a way, the gentle, harmonious emerging of nature in the early hours of New Year's Day urged us to be similarly present with each other. The world is stronger when connected through kindness, harmony and gentle regard for others. Using our moments to compassionately form stronger ties to one another is a good starting point for 2021, and one that nature reflects. It encourages us to grow stronger through those opportunities, embrace them, learn from them, and share the lessons they teach. Let's elevate that concept in our lives this year, and welcome the warmth of that powerful, connective light, strong with its promise of unceasing renewal.
— Gareth Henderson
2020: the year of discovery
2020 made us into discoverers. As our struggles grew, our connections to one another were revealed and, in many cases, also reinvigorated.
Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley of the North Universalist Chapel Society speaks alongside Woodstock Police Chief Robbie Blish at a Black Lives Matter rally in Woodstock, Vermont, on June 9. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
2020 was the year that turned us into discoverers. As our struggles grew, our connections to one another were revealed and, in many cases, also reinvigorated. We learned those connections underpinned one grand, shared existence, enriched by the diversity of individual experiences. And this year, more than ever, we felt the true weight of what we shared.
Throughout 2020, how often did we hear that major events, just a couple of months apart, seemed like they had happened "years ago"? That refrain underscored how unique the year was, and how we bore the multi-layered impact of converging challenges. But we didn't bear that heavy load alone. We volunteered, we donated, we checked on our neighbors — in all things, we persisted, and we discovered. We came to see ourselves and others in a whole new light, because we found out how much our expressions of love and kindness sustain us.
Still, that virtuous resolve was tested in ways it hadn't been in decades. As the pandemic impacted the world, so did cries for justice. The killing of George Floyd and the tensions that rose up in its aftermath caused us to look deeply inward. Multiple generations of multiple races protested, with young people in particular leading inspired calls for change. The younger generations remained determined, even in the face of rife criticism — some of it in person. That discovery, that courage, we bring with us into 2021.
We also bring politics forward, knowing that this contentious election season left us much to address. As the current Congress winds to a close, it's important to note it managed to do something rare in 2020: Congress managed to compromise. That compromise led to the new relief bill, and, though it wasn't a perfect deal, it's getting economic support to many who need it, and it showed genuine collaboration can still do some good on even the grandest scale. Not long before, many might have called such a compromise impossible.
That word may describe 2020 very well. It was a year of impossible challenges, that required impossible solutions. But we persevered as a people, and discovered those answers were possible. We greet 2021 with vaccine distribution happening, with a greater awareness of race issues, and with, perhaps, a chance to see more political compromise in the future. Through such sweeping change in 2020, we're still firmly rooted in our compassion for one another, although some national issues may make us think otherwise. We're stronger than we were, and more aware of each other's needs, how we live, and how we can express the love that supports the greater good. That's a reassuring way to move into the new year.
— Gareth Henderson