1-6-20<\/p>\n
We are deep into the new decade\u2026 Well, hardly. Anyway, far enough into the first month of the new year\u2026 actually, not so. Um, would you believe almost through the first week?<\/p>\n
My question, disregarding the calendar page, becomes easier: how is it going with those New Year\u2019s resolutions?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s have a show of hands: How many of us resolved to give up climbing the Alps in sandals? To cut out all luxuries like miniature pineapples and baby coconuts? To economize by deciding not to purchase luxury boxes for the World Series games?<\/p>\n
Easier: How many of us gave up chocolate… or maybe things like broccoli or squid or things we never liked in the first place?<\/p>\n
Then we might ask how many of us \u2013 being more serious about the \u201croot\u201d of this tradition \u2013 how many of us resolved to do<\/em> positive things, instead of avoiding<\/em> negative things?<\/p>\n How many of us resolved to pray more, every day? Or to do something \u201cextra\u201d like charity work or sharing foods, intentionally serving our neighbors? To show<\/em> love\u2026 to be<\/em> love, in the coming year?<\/p>\n All of which makes us think (or should!) about resolutions \u2013 things we resolve<\/em> to do \u2013 that we tend to think they should be things we subtract from our lives, when we should rather resolve to add<\/em> to our lives.<\/p>\n For God\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n And if we become intentional about such things, we can come closer to realizing that God has made resolutions, too. About us. After all, the best promise He made was to send His Son to take the punishment for our sins away… while we were yet sinners.<\/p>\n An amazing promise, that. And from the Giver of Resolutions whose Nature is such that He cannot break His promises.<\/p>\n The questions I asked above have similar answers. Whether we make promises impossible to keep; or about silly ones whose fidelity mean nothing; or even well-intentioned positive resolutions; most of us, being human, have already surrendered. Well, there is always next year.<\/p>\n For our God, however, for Whom a spark is like a thousand years, \u201cnext year\u201d is like\u2026 eternity. And God\u2019s promises are as from Alpha to Omega. His resolutions cannot be broken. He does not want to: it is not what God does.<\/p>\n On the heavenly scales, our uncountable broken resolutions and promises to God are outweighed by His one resolution: He will remember us.<\/p>\n Happy New Year!<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n