Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
Monday Morning Confessional – 2012 Year End Confessions

Monday Morning Confessional – 2012 Year End Confessions

Last updated on: December 31, 2012 at 1:43 pm by Tim Suttle

Monday Morning Confessional – 2012 Year End Confessions 2012-12-31T13:43:31-07:00 Tim Suttle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Father Adam – a Benedictine monk who is my spiritual director – always says “God is good. People are crazy.” That sums up the year 2012. Here is my year-end confession.

I confess that I am not a very good celebrator of New Year’s Eve. Growing up my family celebrated with Dick Clark on East Coast time and were usually asleep before 11:30. I confess that I haven’t seen midnight on New Year’s Eve in at least half a decade. I’m going to try and make it this year.

I confess that on Nov. 30th I predicted that the politicians in Washington would take us over the fiscal cliff, and it looks as though I got that one right. I’m not super concerned because I have put my hope in Jesus, not in governments and politicians. Nevertheless, I still maintain that this is a plague on the houses of congress no matter their party or ideology. Shame on you politicians and lobbyists.

I confess that tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year; college bowl games on New Year’s Day. I confess that this day has been getting better and better as Nicholas has started to tune in with me. Lewis doesn’t love football yet – I’m still hoping.

I confess that last year on New Year’s Day I was formulating a plan of attack to try to get a publisher for the book idea I had. I confess that this New Year’s Day I will be feeling very grateful that I have signed the contract with Zondervan. Now all that is left is to write it up. That will by my obsession in 2013!

I confess that I’m amazed that scientists put an SUV on Mars in 2012.

I confess that I really enjoyed Nate Silver going 50 out of 50 on predicting the presidential election – not because of the outcome, but because a nerdy numbers guy totally gamed nearly ever pundit and so-called political analyst. Score one for the nerds.

I confess that I think the 2012 presidential election has been a catalyst to a newly vigorous and destructive bout with the culture wars. It saddens me. Our culture is now even more polarized and unfriendly. 2012 was a step back in terms of loving our neighbor and loving our enemies alike.

I confess that I ran four miles on Christmas day 2012 when the wind was blowing about 13 mph and the temperature was 13 degrees… and it was awesome. I confess that for some reason, I always remember the runs I take on holidays. They are these odd little milestones, like “I made it to another Christmas without quitting the exercise routine.” It is snowing cats and dogs in KC right now. I hope it lasts long enough for me to get in a late afternoon run in the whiteness on New Year’s Eve 2012. There’s nothing like breathing in snowflakes.

I confess that while running over the past few weeks I’ve been listening to the unabridged version of Les Miserables on audiobook. My goal was to try and finish the book before I go see the movie. Not sure I’m going to make it. Still the book is fascinating – even the sprawling, loquacious, and detailed accounts of things like the different fashion tells of the social classes, or the five chapters he did on the battle of Waterloo. I confess that when I hit those long sections where it should be 4 hours of detail about the French Revolution, I usually turn the speed up to x3. I confess that when I turn up the speed, I usually pick up the pace of the run… works out well.

I confess that I was bummed when Lance Armstrong went down in 2012. I wanted to believe. I confess that I read Tyler Hamilton’s memoir The Secret Race in a single day last week. It was intoxicating. Armstrong cheated…

I confess that I don’t know a single person who thought the end of the world would come on Dec. 21, score one for common sense.

I confess that I think 2012 was a year of too much suffering: Hurricane Sandy, Gen. Petraeus’ downfall, mass shootings in a movie theater, a grade school, a Sikh temple, killing of diplomats in Benghazi… it’s a mad world. Still I confess that I refuse to despair. I refuse to lose hope. God is good. It’s only that people are crazy, and even that’s not all bad!

Okay friends – I made my confession. Time for you to make yours.

Monday Morning Confessional

Previous Post

December 30, 2012

Incarnation: The Scandal of Particularity

Next Post

January 2, 2013 Top Paperback Theology Posts of 2012

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion corruption Donald Trump elections Empire Entertainment Ezra Klein ideology Justice Lacan politics race Sports Ta-Nehisi Coates Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 March 2026 September 2025 March 2025 June 2024 January 2024 December 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 September 2019 July 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to Jesus, how should we treat our neighbor?

Select your answer to see how you score.

With anger As ourselves With suspicion Ignore them