New year and the promise of new life

The birth of every baby—a new life, a person entering the world—holds the promise of a healthy, productive life well lived; the promise of breaking old cycles of neglect, lack of love, poverty and violence. There is the potential for the growth of love and relationships, of family integrity. The start of a new year reflects this promise of change, the possibility of joy, the idea that things might get better. It is a time for starting afresh and to live life differently; our resolutions range from getting fit and eating healthily to the more profound.

As we start this new year, we cannot help but be aware of events in the world around us. Globally, 2016 was marked by wars, political upheaval, movement to divide, incitement of hatred, greater inequalities, migration and displacement of people at a level never known before. We watch through our virtual windows of television and social media, often feeling helpless to influence and help.