The Season, Christmas, New Year Resolutions

By Norman Franklin

Norman Franklin

The Christmas season is upon us. Time to remove our stoney hearts and replace them with hearts of joy, and hearts of compassion. And yes, switch that cynical attitude— dial it over to the ‘warm and fuzzy’ mode. The seasons no longer have clear boundaries—retail displays for Halloween filled the aisles in September; Christmas displays were up in October. The seasons become one—the year-end marketing blitz.

I’ve joined the trend. I’m not nixing the ‘warm and fuzzy’ but channeling my focus to my New Year’s resolutions. We never give them enough attention. We hastily grab a few old standards as New Year’s Day winds down, half-heartedly commit, and lose the determination as we pass through the kitchen. I’ve decided not to fall victim to the empty resolution rites of passage into the new year of 2026. Mine are made early, but thoughtful and thoroughly vetted.

Here is my list of New Year’s resolutions. I will admit that they are more philosophical than the typical, tangible goals we normally set for ourselves. But this is America, individualism is a hallmark of our identity. So here we go.

I resolve that in 2026, the American people are spoon fed a healthy diet of loaded adjective narratives; our conclusions are formed before we can process the data. I accept that we have no need to exercise critical thinking.

I resolve to believe that politicians are good honest people who care for their constituents, that the promises they make are sincere. I resolve to accept their words as truth.

I resolve to accept that there is a new normal in America, and that the new normal mirrors the normal as it used to be when America was a great nation.

I resolve to accept that the things being accomplished by this administration are the greatest that have ever been accomplished in the history of our great nation. I resolve to accept that any conversation with or about the President must be prefaced with praise for the great things done, and with humility and thanksgiving for granting their presence with him on this journey.

I resolve to accept the white evangelical narrative that America is on its course of divine destiny, and that this president, chosen by God, is leading us in the will of God. It is European theology, and white evangelical leadership that has made our churches bastions of virtue, compassionate jus tice, and purveyors of the will of our God. They have always known what is right in God’s eyes, and best for this country and its people.

I resolve to accept that the silence of the church is not tacit agreement with the racist tone politics has taken; their silence does not signal they are complicit in the disparaging of immigrants—Hispanic, Haitians, Somalis, and devaluing the poor and homeless. It’s just their silence with a wink and a nod.

And finally, I resolve that my confidence in the American people, the politicians of the day, will return to a system of governance by the good, true American people.

New Year’s resolutions are gener ally shelved by the end of January. By starting early, I can exert greater determination to holding true to my resolutions longer than most. But wait, there is one more resolution I want to commit to for 2026. I resolve to keep my trust in God, no matter how uncer tain the times, no matter how daunt ing the circumstances, no matter how truth and values are inverted.