Last day of 2017.
I’d be lying if I said I’m sad to see this year end and a new year begin.
I know it’s just a day on a calendar but there is something about anticipating a fresh start… a do-over of sorts.
I don’t want to dwell on 2017… in less than 16 hours it’s over! Bye bye!
This morning I’m up early reflecting on the past year… things that happened and did not happen. I made health and fitness “resolutions” last year and… well, here is sit older and in worse physical shape than I’ve ever been. Hmmmm….
I made a resolution to”be closer to God” yet I spent most of the year staying away from church and keeping God at a stones throw. Thankfully that has been restored… and rekindled.
So, in 2018, I’m resolving to not make resolutions… you know that list you make. The list that is full of things that are all about being a better person… usually on the outside. I’ve got journals full of them! If I lined them up they would probably all look the same!
2018… it’s weird to say and hard to believe. 18 years into the 21st century. 55 years after the year I was born. What does it bring?
2018 promises this…
365 days
52.18 weeks
8,765.82 hours
535,949.2 minutes
31,556952 seconds
What we do with that time is up to us. What will we fill our days, weeks, hours, minutes and seconds with?
Here’s what I hope to fill my time with…
Love more… judge less
Listen more… talk less
Pray more… grumble less
Move more… eat less
Sleep more… worry less
Serve more…sit less
Play more… strive less
Connect more… hide less
Encourage more… complain less
Live more… enjoy the moment…
Love who I am and where I am right now.
I’ll leave you with a few words to encourage as we embark on 2018. It’s like getting a brand new journal – never been written in! Ready for a new story!
“So, let’s take heart, keep on, fight the good fight, pray continuously, and do not grow weary. There is nothing better than giving up everything and stepping into a passionate love relationship with God, the God of the universe who made galaxies, leaves, laughter, and me and you.” -Francis Chan
And now may the courage of early morning’s dawning,
And the strength of eternal hills at noontime,
And the peace of open spaces at evening’s ending,
And the love of God abide in your hearts now and forever.” Amen.
– Harry K. Zeller, from the BRETHREN HYMNAL
Thoughts and Reflections on Life 