Crossing the Threshold: Entering a New Year with Intention

January carries the energy of beginnings, but for many clergy and ministry leaders, the new year arrives before the old one has fully released its grip. The calendar turns, expectations reset, and the work of ministry continues—often without the pause our spirits need.

Rather than rushing toward resolutions, January invites us to cross the threshold slowly. A threshold is not merely a doorway; it is a space of discernment. In Scripture, thresholds are sacred—places where God meets people between what has been and what is yet to come.

As leaders, we are often asked to cast vision quickly: new goals, new programs, new energy. But spiritual wisdom suggests a different posture—one of reflection before action.

Before asking What should we do this year? we might ask:

• What did last year require of me?

• What did it teach me about my limits and my longings?

• What must I carry forward—and what must I release?

Entering the new year with intention means resisting the pressure to perform renewal instead of practicing it. It means allowing God to name the season before we try to manage it.

For congregations, this kind of leadership models faithfulness over frenzy. It teaches that spiritual health is not found in speed, but in alignment—with God, with one another, and with our own humanity.

Reflection:
What intention—not resolution—do you want to carry into this year?