A Letter from Dr. Jake Bucher

"Peculiar Pairings"

There is a potential tension, or at least juxtaposition, in starting a new year with feelings of both hope and fatigue, of efficacy and disillusionment. I find these pairings especially salient entering 2026 as I’m filled with genuine hope for what can be, and in moments –  daunted by the work necessary to make it so. Considering this over the gift of time drew me to two unlikely, and not intuitively inspiring, companions to walk with me in reflection.

In thinking of work that is unrelenting, unavoidable, and at times overwhelming – I look to Sisyphus, endlessly pushing a boulder uphill, only to watch it roll back down again. While the gods intended to punish Sisyphus with what they believed to be futile work, Camus’ Sisyphus is happy – content in, and grateful for, the intrinsic reward of purpose.

In thinking of work with conviction, I turn to Saint Joan of Arc, who acted from a deep interior conviction long before she had clarity about how her story would end. She discerned a call and responded to it, not because success was guaranteed, but because faithfulness demanded action. Her courage did not come from certainty of outcome, but from attentiveness to what she believed was being asked of her in that moment.

I wonder if our current season of resolutions calls us to hold these two postures together. Like Sisyphus, we are asked to remain faithful to the daily labor, even when the hill feels steep and the summit distant. And like Joan of Arc, we are invited to act with courage rooted in mission – not because the path is clear, but because we believe the work itself is good and worthy.

Ignatius reminds us that love ought to show itself more in deeds than in words. Much of what you do – often quietly, often without recognition – is precisely that kind of love made visible. It is work done for the greater good, grounded in relationship and sustained by a shared commitment to our mission.

This is not easy work. It asks us to trust that God/the good is at work even when results are slow, that faithfulness matters even when outcomes remain uncertain, and that walking together – reflectively, honestly and with care for one another – is itself a sign of grace.

It is ok to start the year struggling to make space for both hope and dread, feeling energized and also preemptively depleted. Thank you for continuing to show up every day/week/month/year with and through that struggle. Thank you for the service, courage and identities you bring to this community. And thank you for the hope that motivates our work, and the work that animates – and validates – our hope.