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A Compass for the New Year

    Perhaps you have seen the recently released movie “The Golden Compass,” or perhaps you have read the book by Philip Pullman, or at least noticed some of the surprisingly negative comments about the film that have been printed in our newspapers. Some feel that the movie’s portrayal of the “Magisterium” (a powerful and oppressive religious establishment) is an indictment of organized religion, and that the film itself could have a potentially dangerous influence on youth.

I read the book a year or so ago, and saw the film last week. I came away from it wondering how anyone could see the Magisterium as representative of a religious movement that they would associate themselves with. It seems to me much more a caricature of religion, rather than a serious critique. As we were leaving, I remarked to another local clergy colleague who happened to be in the audience, “Personally, I think that the responsible exercise of human free will is really a very good thing. To my way of thinking, religion is supposed to help people connect with and relate closely to their souls, rather than trying to sever the human from his or her soul.”

One of the interesting aspects of the film is a device called an “alethiometer,” which can answer questions – at least for those who have the skill to decipher the cryptic runes in which it offers its responses. This “golden compass” not only gives the film its name; it gives its possessor the power to determine whether others are telling the truth or not. As you can easily imagine, it’s a valuable tool, and it helps the central character chart her course through the adventures of the film.

What lies ahead for you in the coming year? What adventures and challenges do you foresee? If you could have a special device to help you chart your course through the
adventures of this year now arriving, what qualities would you choose for it?

At one level, this question is simply hypothetical, since I don’t think any of us can create objects like the golden compass, tailored to the needs of each individual member
of the Fellowship. But if we think of the compass is a metaphor, as a system that assists us as we seek to navigate the adventures of our lives in an intentional manner, it may help us identify what we most need to learn and how we might best develop ourselves as humans over the next twelve months. Do we need to enhance our ability to relate to others? Do we need to “come out of our shells?” Do we have a physical condition that we need to take care of, or a habit or behavior that is holding us back? Do we need to connect ourselves more deeply with community, or with nature, or with the sense of awe that gives our lives meaning?

As I look back on the year now ending, I note that I didn’t accomplish all that I had hoped that I might. Perhaps some of you feel the same way. As we look forward to the year about to begin, we can consider what will help us to achieve what is most important, and what will hold us from those achievements. Perhaps we can identify the compass that will help us find our way into the future we desire!

My very best wishes to you for 2008!

Yours in the new year, Bill S.