01.01.2026 | Happy New Year

From Darkness to Dawn: Certain of What We Do Not See
 
In the long darkness of winter, on this first day of January, it feels as though nothing has changed. Another day, another turn of the calendar. The nights stretch long, the days remain short, and still we face months of waiting.
 
And yet, the reality is that everything has changed. In the garden, the soil holds secrets: new life, sheltered deep, already stirring. It is not the calendar that marks renewal, but the hidden rebirth beneath the frost.
 
Here, the author of Hebrews reminds us: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is the seed beneath the soil, unseen yet alive, reaching toward the light.
 
On this first day of 2026, we begin in darkness, but we reach toward the coming dawn. We trust that the light will shine, that better days are ahead. This year may be filled with unseen faith, new beginnings, and the desire to scatter love and joy along the way.
 
Faith begins in unseen soil, grows through perseverance, and blossoms in hope. May the God of peace equip us for the journey ahead, and may the light guide our steps into this new year.