Daily Meditation for January 8, 2026

Bruce carefully chose his wall calendar for 2026. The photos of mountain areas in Wyoming held his attention. Was it due to being a different world than his usual environment? Fresh air and the smell of pines or of sulfur from geysers? Bears delighting travelers while also presenting lurking threats to their safety? Images bringing back memories of a family trip to experience something of the West and to visit relatives? As engaging as the photos are, the alluring dynamic going on in selecting a calendar probably has more to do with a sense of newness — the newness of January and a fresh year ahead, shifts in perspectives and plans for reforming or lives (often with too many resolutions), and a refreshing sense of beginnings. Year 2026 again invites us to notice and respond to daily events of grace that will fill in the blank spaces on our new calendars.

By Mary Reuter, OSB