I am sitting in a class as I write this blog. I get here by sheer resolve each week as I am not motivated by the teacher or the subject matter. Either is the girl who sits in front of me. I kinda want the shoes she paused over but eventually decided against, as she online shops. Living by guilt most of my life keeps me from shopping during class….writing a blog seems racy enough to me. I normally would be a little judgmental of someone doing anything other than paying attention in class, but after the past year, I am embracing the idea that life is too short to waste time.
As we approach the new year, I am giddy with anticipation. 2014 tried to kill me literally and metaphorically, so 2015 offers a chance for something better. I cannot remember what my resolutions for 2014 were, but I am quite sure that when Mike and I do our ceremonial goal setting on January 1 and we pull out the list from last year, I will not be happy with the results. However, I am quite impressed that we are trudging along at all, so I am ready to make some new resolutions that will reflect our survivalist nature, in a way that only those who have endured a fight understand.
Resolve is a powerful tool. Resolve enables us to endure the difficult times that come our way. We can resolve to save a marriage or not let a marriage take our life away. We can resolve to live with integrity or to not allow others to take advantage of us. Most of America resolves at this time of the year to eat better and exercise more. For some reason resolve is less effective for that particular resolution. Why is that?
It could be because resolve kicks in when our situation is most dire. I remember President Bush utilizing the term frequently following 911, because the time was complex, emotional and our lives felt threatened. Most of us don’t have to wait for a national crisis to experience complex, emotional and life threatening. Our daily lives offer us a bit of that through trials of family drama, health issues, or problems at work. We often utilize resolve without even realizing it to get through some pretty horrendous situations, yet fail to exercise resolve for the situations that are most meaningful to us.
As I reflect on 2014, I realize that resolve was most helpful in keeping me alive, getting me to the graduate school finish line and keeping my family and work afloat. It is getting me through this mind-numbing class right now. However, it is time to put it to use for more altruistic efforts. I have been using resolve for survival and now I would like to put it into action for things lovely, encouraging to others and for a life lived more fully.
My resolutions for 2015 are going to read, “I resolve to….” and will include things like, “live in the moment, enjoy the last year of my kids being at home, help someone else who is being hit by life circumstances.” I also plan to be resolved about staying away from people and circumstances that hinder or come between me and my resolutions. Life is too short to live by guilt, be overwhelmed by obligation or live in terms of other people’s expectations.
When the Bible encourages us to run the race with the intent to win (I Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 12:1), we often think the text is referring to sharing the gospel or even personal success. I believe it can be applied to having a personal integrity that honors the person God created. It is living a life where our talents, personal actions and life goals give honor to the Almighty God who formed us in His image. This is what it means to adore Him.
I resolve to be that person, made in His image. I resolve to run the race and I resolve to win. I also resolve to eat better and exercise more for at least the first three weeks of 2015.