Galactic Catholic Universe Photo of the Day: Louisiana

Only a few weeks ago I was enjoying the fall foliage in Franklinton.

And now old man winter rears his head...and icy wind.

Wishful Thinking

Everybody starts the new year off with a little wishful thinking.  I wish for a new car, for a new job, for a new place to live, and the list goes on. It feels good to think about wishful thinking before you even make the wish.  "Oh, I know what I will wish for!" or "I can't wait to make my New Year's wish!"  

Wishful thinking is delightful, whimsical and hopeful. Wishful thinking is also better than, greater than, bigger than and faster than the last wishful thinking that happened.  It feels great.  And it's good to start a new year off feeling great!  Wishful thinking inspires the best of us to make good resolutions that can make us feel like winners or losers for at least the month of January.

My favorite wishful thinker from scripture has got to be David.  This psalm writer gave us years of wishes that were in fact petitions to our Father in Heaven.  The petitions from David were sincere and hopeful, much like most of today's new year resolutions.  But in his case the petitions were for God's favor.

Wishful thinking got me thinking about the favor of God upon real people like King David all the way down to Mary, the Virgin Mother of God.  In David's case, we can relate to both his faults and his gains.  Most of us don't have a kingdom to run, but we have some charge over ourselves and the people around us.  His psalms relate so easily to our times of trial and struggle and joy.  He is thankful and triumphant and persistent in his faith.

In the Virgin Mary's case, she had one wish to do that of the will of God.  She might have wished for a nicer ride to Bethlehem, but we'll never know.  She never sinned but only had care of one of the greatest wishes of mankind, that of a savior for the people of God.  She had God's favor and couldn't wish for more.

There are many people that don't believe God exists or that turn away from Him.  Can you imagine the emptiness of their wishes?  Where is the joy or hopefulness for the future? You could say, they will work and earn money for what they want or acquire it somehow.  But those things will never be perfect.

I wish to explain.   God is delightful, whimsical and hopeful.  God is better than, greater than, bigger than and faster than the last time you needed him.  God feels great.  And it's good to start a new year off feeling God!  God inspires the best of us to make good resolutions that can make us feel like winners or losers for at least the month of January.