What do we really want?

At the beginning of a new year we often make wishes.  We wish for health and healing, for us and our loved ones.  We wish for wealth, and success, mostly for ourselves. We wish for justice, for the mistreated and oppressed.  We wish for revenge, against the oppressors and evil-doers.

But are these what we really want?

We may have perfect health or be healed from illness; but eventually we all die.  We may be fabulously rich, achieve academic greatness, and be immensely powerful; but we can take none of these to our graves.  We may see the oppressed liberated; but the liberated may turn oppressors themselves when they gain power.  We may see the oppressors punished; but what good does that really do for the oppressed, other than a fleeting sense of gratification?

Ultimately, what we want is peace that is lasting, and strength that endures.  We want to see our loved ones again, after they had passed away.  It is more satisfying to possess the strength to endure and even overcome adversity; rather than never having to face and taste adversity. It is better to see the evil-doers repent; rather than to see evil done to them.  It is actually much harder this way.   It is better to be loved, rather than to possess what and whom we love.  It is truly more blessed this way.  

Who can grant us these wishes?   Certainly not ourselves humans, whose frailties we are all too familiar with.  There is no one but God, the creator of the universe and us humans within, who can grant us these wishes. Without Him, there is no hope.