Resolutions?

Although I'm not a great fan of New Year's resolutions, which mostly seem like another opportunity to have good intentions and fail, my ear was caught by the report of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby's message for the start of 2014.  We should resolve, he thinks, to try to change the world around us.  Well, not much to ask, thought I!   But what does it mean to change the world?  Would considering my marathon effort to be world-changing come from an over-inflated sense of self-importance, or would it just be a recognition that we all change the world, every moment of every day?  Surely, the latter.  We all have free choice how to change the world: our little actions, our reactions, compassionate or judgemental, have an impact on those around us, and so, like ripples on a pond, on the whole of creation.  Often I'm disappointed with the choices I make, the opportunities I miss, my negative contributions to the world.  Yet these are off-set, let's hope, by moments of grace, the pleasure of generosity, the sense of community and communion which come from shared projects.  This marathon is not really mine; the contribution it will make to Catholic Children's Society is not really mine.  Alone, I could do very little.  So, as much as I hardly dare resolve anything, this year I hope I might: a.) recognise the mutual dependence of everyone in the world to make it a better place; b.) trust that my personal actions can, in communion with yours, achieve something worthwhile.  In this, as in everything, I will need your help.  I could also do with some reminders to get more sleep and to eat more healthily, if I'm going to manage 26.1 miles!  Are you in?  I hope so, because with you, a resolution might for once bear fruit.