Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Resolved


An Inkling
Following closely on the heels of the season to be jolly is the season to resolve to do better.  Thus our annual attempt at New Year’s resolutions.
Put your discernment powers to work on these lists and determine whose they are:
  • No more perching on her chest at night, staring in her eyes, and waiting for her to wake up; no more bringing mice and birds to the back door to show off my hunting abilities (the family cat).
  • No more chasing the stick unless I actually see it leave his hand; no more rushing by a passing dog without taking time to properly smell his backside; no more burying treasures without remembering where to find them (the family dog).

Human lists are even funnier!  At least it strikes us as funny that we would keep trying our annual resolution ritual when our track records have been so poor.
But there’s a reason for our poor record.  Many of the things we resolve to do are not the sorts of things we can do simply by trying hard – things like:  be more loving, be more forgiving, think first of others, etc.
Dallas Willard is so helpful here in distinguishing between the sorts of things we can choose to do (what he calls spiritual disciplines), and the results of those things (like being more loving).  Thus you can resolve for 2013 to set aside time each morning to pray and read the scripture, to have some time of solitude each week, and to join others for worship.  Those are resolutions you really can keep.
And the results are beyond anything you can simply resolve to do, such as becoming more loving, forgiving, etc.  These come as gifts from God, and they will indeed make for a Happy New Year!
So what will you resolve for 2013?
Blessings,
Keith