When I was a kid, I thought that New Year’s was somehow magical. I imagined that somehow, at midnight, everything was wiped clean and we all miraculously got a clean slate with which to start the next year. The parties and celebrations seemed to lend credence to that – why else would we be celebrating? Also, staying up until midnight – kind of a big deal when your bedtime is usually 8:30!
Of course, now I know that nothing magical happens at midnight on December 31st (unless you count the kiss I got from Brian), and that in fact all of our hangups, issues, sins, and other troubles will of course follow us into January 1st. There’s no real magic embedded in New Year celebrations, no matter what we hope for. Yet we still want it to be a new beginning. We set goals, we take out gym memberships, we start diets, we resolve to do things differently. Pursuing God’s priorities is the only way to make any of that really happen!
In 2017, I made changes to the way I eat and live, made a few strides in my professional life, and took a few leaps of faith. Some of that was nerve-wracking, some of that required an immense amount of discipline, and ALL of it was worthwhile.
This year, I’m setting some goals around learning, work, spending time with Brian and Josh, and my spiritual life. I’d like to learn hand lettering, spend my time with my guys more intentionally, become even more consistent in spending time with God, and find a way to become more involved in my community. None of these things can possibly be accomplished by NYE midnight magic! No – they take planning, hard work, time, space, and very much involve listening for God’s still small voice. I have a few tools with which I hope to accomplish these things – a notebook journal, my Full Focus Planner, swanky new pens and pencils and a “how to” lettering book, as well as a list of fun things to do and see in our city and some contact numbers for community groups. I’ve spent some time thinking and praying about these goals, and they will evolve and change as the year goes by and as I make progress on them.
Happy New Year from our home to yours, and may 2018 be a year in which you discover that pursuing God’s interests is always in your best interest! (h/t to Brian for a quote ripped from Sunday’s sermon!)
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