I recently learned that the month of January was named after the Roman god Janus. He was known as the protector of gates and doorways. This, in turn, symbolized beginnings and endings. Janus was depicted with two faces, often one was a young version facing one way, the other an aged one facing the opposite way. You can see how January became the perfect time to stop and reflect on our past year and look forward to the new one stretching out before us. We are given a new clean slate, an opportunity to keep the things in our life that are working and eliminate or change those that are not.

The Romans would make promises to Janus, thus the roots of our custom of making New Year’s resolutions. I don’t always make a definitive resolution, I always seem to fail at them, but this year I am making one of sorts. On New Year’s Day, I attended a church service with my son and his family, and the pastor encouraged everyone to choose a word for the year. A positive word of encouragement. Not necessarily related to giving something up, or even self-improvement, but a word that would inspire and not make us feel like a failure or inadequate. My five-year-old granddaughter was a true inspiration. When her mother asked her what her word was for 2023, without missing a beat she said, “Hope, my word is hope.”

My word, which popped into my head instantly, was not really a word at all, but a line taken from a song. In fact, it is the title of a song, “There Was Jesus.” It was performed by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton and was released in October of 2019. The timing of its release was rather apropos considering COVID-19 was looming just around the corner. It tells the story of life’s journey complete with the mountains, the valleys, and the times we try to make it on our own. Situations we can all certainly relate to. Considering the YouTube official music video has over 41 million views, I think I am correct in that assumption. The chorus says “In the waiting, in the searching, in the healing and the hurting, like a blessing buried in the broken pieces. Every minute, every moment where I’ve been and where I’m going. Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it, there was Jesus.”

The message in this song has been very real in my life over the last few tumultuous years. No matter what circumstances I was going through, the hurting or the healing, the valley of the mountain, there was Jesus. As I look ahead to what may be in store for me in 2023, I plan to place my complete trust once again in this phrase.

I also love that this is a song of reflection. It focuses on the thought that no matter who we are, what we have done, or where we have been, we are always worthy to be accepted and loved. For you it may not be by Jesus, it may be another higher power or perhaps others who love and care about you and come around you to motivate, love and support.

I would like to encourage you to choose a word or phrase for 2023. Something you can write down, that is always a reminder to you. It could be anything with meaning for you for we are all in different seasons of life. Then, perhaps tell someone about it so they can take the journey with you. Heck, I just told all of you, so I have many companions on my journey this year.

Oh, and I want to leave you with this bit of fun weather folklore associated with January that might be fun to watch. Fog in January brings a wet spring. A favorable January brings us a good year. If grass grows in January, it will grow badly the whole year. A summerish January, a winterish spring.

Happy New Year!

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Rhonda S. Kelley, Executive Director, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce