Ramblin’ an’ Rumblin’ XIII
New Year’s Resolutions
Author: Johnny Wayne Brady
For various reasons, I am not one given to making New Year Resolutions. It is, however, a good time and a natural inclination to reflect on the past year as we consider and hopefully embrace what is written in Isaiah 43:18, “…forget the former things; do not dwell on the past…”and start thinking about what the New Year will bring and how we will respond or react to it.
I like to clarify these terms since I do not use them interchangeably. If you are using meds and respond to them, you will probably get past your malady and recover, but if you react to the meds you probably will get worse or as we sometimes say callously, “have to get better to die”. (Pardon the slight interruption).
So as we move on, it is wise to respond to the New Year and an opportunity to leave yesterday’s regrets behind as we continue to build on yesterday’s successes looking forward to a year full of potential. This could very well be our best year ever when we allow the Holy Spirit to intertwine with realistic goals and drive our efforts to produce productive and dynamic ends and accomplish great things. This does not presuppose that this year will reach the heights of perfection, because we do not know what will happen. We can assume, however, that this year, as in the past, will be accompanied with its share of ups and downs. There will be moments of ecstatic joy along with the scourge of worry and heartaches. We will have painful experiences but as C. S. Lewis put it, “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing the monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” Along with this we need to do as 1 Peter 5:7 says and cast all our anxieties on God for He loves us (paraphrased).”
One parallel I heard from another source is the analogy of the sunflower and could be helpful in our quest to find more meaning for life in this New Year. Sunflowers are hearty, beautiful and brilliant plants that have the ability to grow in adverse conditions. They are able to survive in almost any environment. Another incredible fact about the sunflower is that the young blossoms always follow the sun. At daybreak, they face east to catch the morning’s first rays of light and as the sun moves across the sky during the day the blossoms follow it until it sets in the west. Then overnight they turn east again ready to greet the next day’s light and repeat the cycle. In this way, the sunflower receives the maximum amount of the sun’s vital energy throughout the day.
As we greet the inception of this year, let us all remember the sunflower and be determined to follow the sun (Son) to collect the vitality to focus on the things of greatest worth in our lives. Let us be like the sunflower and regardless of the soil or environment or the conditions that may put us at a disadvantage, even if the conditions are extremely hostile, we can have sunshine (Sonshine) in our soul every day.
Again, C. S. Lewis wrote, “Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”
God bless and have a super-great year.
New Year’s Resolutions
Author: Johnny Wayne Brady
For various reasons, I am not one given to making New Year Resolutions. It is, however, a good time and a natural inclination to reflect on the past year as we consider and hopefully embrace what is written in Isaiah 43:18, “…forget the former things; do not dwell on the past…”and start thinking about what the New Year will bring and how we will respond or react to it.
I like to clarify these terms since I do not use them interchangeably. If you are using meds and respond to them, you will probably get past your malady and recover, but if you react to the meds you probably will get worse or as we sometimes say callously, “have to get better to die”. (Pardon the slight interruption).
So as we move on, it is wise to respond to the New Year and an opportunity to leave yesterday’s regrets behind as we continue to build on yesterday’s successes looking forward to a year full of potential. This could very well be our best year ever when we allow the Holy Spirit to intertwine with realistic goals and drive our efforts to produce productive and dynamic ends and accomplish great things. This does not presuppose that this year will reach the heights of perfection, because we do not know what will happen. We can assume, however, that this year, as in the past, will be accompanied with its share of ups and downs. There will be moments of ecstatic joy along with the scourge of worry and heartaches. We will have painful experiences but as C. S. Lewis put it, “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing the monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” Along with this we need to do as 1 Peter 5:7 says and cast all our anxieties on God for He loves us (paraphrased).”
One parallel I heard from another source is the analogy of the sunflower and could be helpful in our quest to find more meaning for life in this New Year. Sunflowers are hearty, beautiful and brilliant plants that have the ability to grow in adverse conditions. They are able to survive in almost any environment. Another incredible fact about the sunflower is that the young blossoms always follow the sun. At daybreak, they face east to catch the morning’s first rays of light and as the sun moves across the sky during the day the blossoms follow it until it sets in the west. Then overnight they turn east again ready to greet the next day’s light and repeat the cycle. In this way, the sunflower receives the maximum amount of the sun’s vital energy throughout the day.
As we greet the inception of this year, let us all remember the sunflower and be determined to follow the sun (Son) to collect the vitality to focus on the things of greatest worth in our lives. Let us be like the sunflower and regardless of the soil or environment or the conditions that may put us at a disadvantage, even if the conditions are extremely hostile, we can have sunshine (Sonshine) in our soul every day.
Again, C. S. Lewis wrote, “Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”
God bless and have a super-great year.