A few resolutions for living the good life this year

Now that we’ve passed the traditional New Year’s resolutions (go on a diet, get some exercise, finish the Honey Do list), I’d like to offer a few suggestions.

Let’s start with the angels’ greeting to the shepherds a couple of millennia ago: “and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Well, if not peace, then we could start with civility and maybe even listening to each other. Some will say this only applies to men He is pleased with, but I think, having sent His only Son to save us, He is still pleased with all of us, and wishes we would follow some His Son’s messages.

We might begin with that “neighbor” stuff. Remember the story about the stranger from a foreign land who, happening on a mugging victim abandoned by his own leaders, took the victim in and paid for his treatment? How do we treat our strangers? Go down along the desolate Arizona-New Mexico border and see what risks they take to come here — at least the ones who don’t die trying.

Finally, there are those corporal works of mercy Christ mentioned. You remember, visiting the sick and those in prison, feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers and so forth? Yes, I know, all that stuff is hard, and we’re busy and it all costs money. Oh, and what about the wise virgins who saved their lamp oil or the steward who buried the treasure his master left him to watch over? Could it be that Christ was talking about spiritual goods not material treasure?

Yes, all of this is hard, and it can cost money, but so are dieting and exercise. Which are we called to do, the really hard stuff or the easy stuff? I’ll leave it up to you, gentle readers. In the meantime, have a Happy and Joyous New Year!

— Jack Burke

Salisbury

A few words about ‘American Sniper’ — tongue in cheek

“American Sniper” is such a wonderful movie. It was clearly made for us Americans. I didn’t know we were so good at killing people. It’s about time we showed women and children how tough we are.

Also, I didn’t need a lot of education to understand this movie. The script was efficiently held down to about seven or eight words. They just used them over and over. Movies that have a good story are just too hard to understand.

— Delmar McDaniel

Salisbury