Daily Meditation for January 17, 2022

We’re often told to let go—good advice if we’re talking about grudges, hoarded possessions, hurtful relationships, and habits and ideas that no longer bring new life. But the opposite advice—hang on!—is also wise and may be more critical at this moment. Think of the frontline health care workers who come to work day after day, month after month, hanging on to dedication and compassion, in spite of weariness, frustration, and sorrow for those who die in their care. We hang on to family and friends across distances, even those who have distanced themselves. Let’s also hang on with stubborn hands to what is too precious to lose, beginning with this Earth and its irreplaceable riches—every tree, bird, river, and atom of air. When hopelessness seems to be lurking around every corner, let’s hang on to the certainty that in the midst of it all, God is hanging on to us.

By Mara Faulkner, OSB