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New Year's Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions
The changing of the calendar to a new year, in this case
2009, usually leads us to think about changes that we are going to make for the
new year. A fresh start and a new
resolve give us the courage to think that things are going to be different this
time. At one time such changes
might have been unique to our lives but that is certainly not the case any
more. We live in an environment
that thrives on change. The rate
of change that we must deal with is almost out of control. To make a New Year’s resolution to
change hardly seems necessary.
I would like to suggest we consider for this year to make
resolutions about what needs to stay the same in our lives. What do we need to keep? Really this is an upside down way to
get at what is really most important in our lives. This is a very good thing to rediscover more frequently than
we do. What do we value? That is not to say we might not resolve
to do some things better or with more passion and purpose, but what is it that
we would never want to forfeit in our lives? In today’s culture, unless we intervene more intentionally,
change will become the norm and we will be led to make changes in areas that
really need to stay the same.
Eventually, I am afraid we will discover that our foundations, our
values, and our beliefs have been eroded away. Not because of a grand-scheme, single decision but a series
of subtle changes that each seemed to be right at the time and yet in the
larger context, as a sum total, have brought us to places we never intended to
be. The fences come down around us
that have protected us not with a bulldozer but with wire clippers, a link at a
time.
Granted, I do think that some change is not only good, but
that it is absolutely necessary and important. Our inability to discern those changes that will have larger
consequences and what those consequences ultimately might be is the very issue
we must wrestle with daily.
Every family, every institution, each person must at some
point recognize and establish those aspects of who and what they are that are
non-negotiable. Where is the
immoveable line drawn for you?
Where do you stand firm? It
is getting more difficult to find that place, isn’t it? We find that we can rationalize our way
to any choice we really want to make.
Maybe it would be the best resolution that you could make this year; determine
what is it for you, for your family, for your classroom, for your school that
is not negotiable. What will not
ever change and how will we make sure that it does not change? Do your children know the
non-negotiables in your life? Do
your students? Do your friends? If
not, why not?
One place you might start is with what Jesus said when asked,
“What is the most important command?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbor as
yourself.”
Doesn’t sound too negotiable to me; does it to you?
May 2009 be a year that brings you closer in your walk with
the Lord and may you feel His presence daily, leading you on the very path that
He has uniquely designed just for you.
View all episodes
New Year’s Resolutions
The changing of the calendar to a new year, in this case
2009, usually leads us to think about changes that we are going to make for the
new year. A fresh start and a new
resolve give us the courage to think that things are going to be different this
time. At one time such changes
might have been unique to our lives but that is certainly not the case any
more. We live in an environment
that thrives on change. The rate
of change that we must deal with is almost out of control. To make a New Year’s resolution to
change hardly seems necessary.
I would like to suggest we consider for this year to make
resolutions about what needs to stay the same in our lives. What do we need to keep? Really this is an upside down way to
get at what is really most important in our lives. This is a very good thing to rediscover more frequently than
we do. What do we value? That is not to say we might not resolve
to do some things better or with more passion and purpose, but what is it that
we would never want to forfeit in our lives? In today’s culture, unless we intervene more intentionally,
change will become the norm and we will be led to make changes in areas that
really need to stay the same.
Eventually, I am afraid we will discover that our foundations, our
values, and our beliefs have been eroded away. Not because of a grand-scheme, single decision but a series
of subtle changes that each seemed to be right at the time and yet in the
larger context, as a sum total, have brought us to places we never intended to
be. The fences come down around us
that have protected us not with a bulldozer but with wire clippers, a link at a
time.
Granted, I do think that some change is not only good, but
that it is absolutely necessary and important. Our inability to discern those changes that will have larger
consequences and what those consequences ultimately might be is the very issue
we must wrestle with daily.
Every family, every institution, each person must at some
point recognize and establish those aspects of who and what they are that are
non-negotiable. Where is the
immoveable line drawn for you?
Where do you stand firm? It
is getting more difficult to find that place, isn’t it? We find that we can rationalize our way
to any choice we really want to make.
Maybe it would be the best resolution that you could make this year; determine
what is it for you, for your family, for your classroom, for your school that
is not negotiable. What will not
ever change and how will we make sure that it does not change? Do your children know the
non-negotiables in your life? Do
your students? Do your friends? If
not, why not?
One place you might start is with what Jesus said when asked,
“What is the most important command?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbor as
yourself.”
Doesn’t sound too negotiable to me; does it to you?
May 2009 be a year that brings you closer in your walk with
the Lord and may you feel His presence daily, leading you on the very path that
He has uniquely designed just for you.