On the eve of a new year I am reminded of God’s mercy built into our life. He lets us start over again and again. His mercies are new every morning. Every day there are disappointments and mistakes, and 2016 will not be any different. There will be thrills and there will be ills. Struggles and victories. There will be falling down, but there will be getting up!
The seasons and the passing years are reminders of both the transiency and possibilities of life on this planet. The years are adding up for me. There are fewer ahead on this earth than behind. My list of goals, however, just keeps getting longer! What I hope to change, though, is the focus of my “TO DO” list. I absolutely still want to be the perfect weight and run a marathon. I definitely still want to become a gourmet cook. I really desire to learn to speak Spanish and want to play a guitar. In a fit of realism, I have crossed becoming an astronaut off of my list, but nothing else!! Yet, more and more, I realize those are things to pursue within a larger and more permanent framework. What will last forever are souls. Relationships with other souls. Relationship with my creator. Family and friends are more important than my “TO DO” list. Time spent doing even mundane and trivial pursuits with them is more important than a completely checked off list.
So for this coming year, though I am not ready to give up my “TO DO” LIST, I am tweaking it a little. I want to focus more on what is most important. This body I am residing in – at least my creaking knees, and various other parts -are reminding me that they are not permanent. My sagging skin (which seems permanent) is so distressing! (Will someone PLEASE invent a wrinkle eraser?). What is really going to last forever? That is where I want to focus. I want to pursue what has eternal value. With that in mind, I resolve to touch other people’s lives more. I resolve to share more of my time and my possessions. I will listen more. I will try to hear what is not being said. I will try to speak less with words and more with actions This year I need less of me!!
Jesus says that eternal life is to KNOW Him. Eternal life is definitely on my list. So I am moving TIME SPENT with God and others to the top of my list. Removing wrinkles is still there but will have to wait. All of my other goals are still there also…. they are just moved further down.
