I didn’t make any resolutions this year. In truth, I rarely do. I like the idea of resolutions. Making a promise to myself and working to improve areas of my life sounds like a pretty good thing for me to do. I know that I will be healthier and happier if I make a few resolutions that support my growth as a husband, father, pastor, and friend. But I also know myself. Like the Apostle Paul, I confess, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do.” Whether its running more miles or growing in patience toward my six year old, my efforts to improve myself often fall short.
Around this time for the past couple of years, I’ve returned to Oliver Burkeman’s “Wisdom for the End of the Year.” One of the insights he steals from Elizabeth Gilbert is for writers but it applies to us all: “Forgive yourself. Then keep going.” Gilbert writes, “Every writer starts in the same way on Day One: Super excited, and ready for greatness. On Day Two, every writer looks at what she wrote on Day One and hates herself. What separates working writers from non-working writers is that working writers return to their task on Day Three. What gets you there is not pride but mercy. Show yourself forgiveness for not being good enough. Then keep going.”
Can you relate? It’s probably an overstatement to say that we hate ourselves by day two, but it usually doesn’t take too long before the excitement with which we started the year fades. Gilbert's advice to forgive ourselves is good. In the reading from Ephesians for today we discover that mercy for ourselves — as well as for others — is made possible by God. The point is that we can forgive ourselves because God already has. Today is Day Three of this glorious new year and if you haven’t failed your resolution yet, odds are you will (probably before February!). When you do, remember that you are forgiven. Then keep going.
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Change is hard. Over the years I've backed off of resolutions to do or be something or other. Instead, I occasionally commit to "try" to be or do something. It's easier to start again after the inevitable fail of my "try". I sometimes chuckle when I think about what Jesus must think when I commit to "try". He probably chuckles, too, or guffaws in my case, knowing I'll blow it. But He doesn't care about the fail, He cares about the lifelong journey of trying. How wonderful is that kind of love?!
I love this! Each year I seem to have the same resolution, but at the end of the year I'm not sure if I have achieved it in any way. At least I am aware of the problem, but love to know about forgiving myself and moving on! Great message!