What Do You Resolve?

I’m not good with resolutions. For many years, I made a list of goals for the year, but changing the name to “goals” didn’t really make a difference — I still rarely followed through on any of them. And in looking back over them, I noticed that I listed the same ones year after year. I eventually figured out that I might as well call them dreams or wishes. I wished they might come true, but wasn’t willing to put in any of the work. And my Fairy Godmother seems to be on permanent vacation in the Bahamas.

This year I started reading a book titled “Hurry Less Worry Less at Christmastime” by Judy Pace Christie. I keep trying to convince people to slow down their Christmas frenzy, and I hoped this book would have some helpful tips. And I found one.

One thing the author suggests is taking time to look back on your year. Think about your blessings, your accomplishments, your disappointments. This can help you think more clearly about what you want to do differently in the coming year. Not just in your daily life but in your spiritual life.

She also suggests keeping a journal, which I already do. But then I had my own little epiphany. The word epiphany also means a moment when you suddenly understand something, a sudden insight — an “aha” moment, Christie says. And so a new idea was born.

I have “aha” moments during my scripture reading sometimes throughout the year. And I note them in my journal — but then I rarely go back and read these journals.

My epiphany moment this time was to start a “highlights journal.” A special separate little book where I write down these insights. Then reading back through the year’s insights can become my new New Year’s tradition. I’m even likely to follow through on that, since it will take less time than reading through the entire year’s journal scribblings. (I write really lengthy journal entries.)

As resolutions go, this one isn’t liable to make a noticeable change in my life. Not noticeable to other people, anyway. But the most common resolutions — to get organized, to lose weight — are really just ongoing projects. (One of my long-ago epiphanies is that you are never actually “done” with either of those projects— you can make changes in both areas but there are always more changes to be made. A  lot like housework.) This one will help me with my inner spiritual growth and peace.

And I think this is the very best kind of new year’s resolution to make — one that addresses your spiritual life rather than mundane earthly concerns. I recently learned a lesson from Nehemiah, who prayed about everything first, then got to work. Do you pray over your new year’s resolutions? I never have — but I will from now on.

My prayer for all of us is that we will experience God’s peace in this new year. With maybe a few epiphany moments for each of us along the way.