Fridays are for Newspaper Articles

Since I was away from blogging for two weeks, the following article (my weekly column in the Canyon Lake Times-Guardian, as always) is a few days dated.  But, I still think it has some things to say that we–me especially!–would do well to hear.  Enjoy!

                    “New Year’s Resolution?” 

            Did you make a New Year’s resolution (or more) this year?  If so, only a few days into 2008, how is it going?  I hope it’s going well, but, from extensive past experience and observation, I am hardly confident that is the case.

            You see, in years gone by, I frequently made multiple New Year’s resolutions and, sadly, they never lasted very long into that year.  So, as you can imagine, it was very frustrating.

            Finally, I gave up on making my own resolutions and decided to observe how things went with other people who made resolutions.  I reasoned, “Maybe I’m doing something wrong and I can see how others succeed.”  So, I took several years to observe others and whether they could keep their resolutions.

            Well, I did, in fact, note that several people were able to keep some modest, realistic New Year’s resolutions.  However, I also noticed that most people had the exact same experience that I did.  They would start off with real enthusiasm, only to fall flat within a relatively short period of time.

            At that point, honestly, I was ready to give up on New Year’s resolutions altogether.  Why even get involved with something that frustrates and discourages you that much?  And, why get the New Year started off on such a sour note?

            But, that completely negative attitude only lasted for a short period of time.  As I will explain, I instead decided to simply adjust the meaning of “resolution” in my mind, so that something very positive could potentially happen in the place of the predictable failures that had been there before.

            What do I mean?  The common understanding of “resolution” in regard to New Year’s is “to resolve to change something in your life for the better.”  And, that’s not a bad idea, obviously.  But, the 30 pounds or so I lost in 2007 happened without a New Year’s resolution to spur it on (or tempt me to give up early on).  In other words, meaningful change in our personal lives does not require a New Year’s resolution.  And, in my opinion, there is a much more helpful way to define “resolution” as we look at 2008.

            You see, for our purposes here, another equally valid definition of “resolution” is “the result of resolving a problem or a conflict.”  Why not make it your New Year’s resolution(s) for 2008 to focus on resolving a problem or conflict that is causing considerable pain or difficulty in your life?  Wouldn’t that make the most sense?  Wouldn’t that likely impact your life more positively than the normal type of resolution?

            Yes, it is true that there is no guarantee that you will be able to resolve the personal problem or interpersonal conflict?  But, how will you know unless you try?  It can’t happen unless you get beyond the fear and denial and give it your best shot.  And, even if you don’t get it totally worked out, there is real satisfaction in knowing that you gave it everything you had.  And, would you want to die—or the other person, with whom you have the conflict, die—without at least trying your best to find mutually agreeable middle ground and mutual forgiveness.

            Are you willing to give this adjusted approach to “resolution” a chance or two in your life and relationships, to see whether it might work?  It could revolutionize your self-image and at least some key relationships.

            But, before anything else, you might want to check on whether you need to resolve your relationship with the Lord?  In case you didn’t know, He has already done everything that is needed to be reconciled to you by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).  Your part of that eternal “resolution” with God is faith in Christ.  And, in stark contrast to the common understanding of New Year’s resolutions, that kind of resolution has never failed for any who have trusted Christ in all of history.

Coming Monday: I will resume the series dealing with needed reforms in the SBC.