Resolving to improve the spiritual, not just the body
So, we are some months into the new year, and nothing’s really changed. As 2024 approached, I questioned friends, “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?” Mostly, I got shrugs or comments such as, “I don’t believe in that.”
Then I Googled websites for guidance. The usual suspects appeared — exercise more, eat healthy food, quit smoking, lose weight and limit alcohol. These common goals are popular, but most often not met in the new year.
I realize that I need to do all these things, but this prescription was generic, and not tailored to me, maybe that is why the failure rate is so high for all of us. Also, I had no real hand in the design. What really were my druthers?
Thinking these usual New Year’s resolutions were all centered on my body, I decided to research some goals for the spirit in the New Year. What I found was pretty simple — prioritize worship and pray fervently. This was seemingly the same for all religions. Like the nonreligious resolutions, these tended to be all about me, my worshiping and my praying. There was little room for daily life and the interactions with the people who surround me.
Thus, I decided that I had to make my own specific list of what matters for me in 2024. It’s a meandering list without weight for each item.
What Matters
Remembering the birthday of an elder or a child
Smiling at the cashier and the baby in the shopping cart
Thanking others frequently and sincerely
Congratulating a friend or foe on a victory won, whether large or small Just considering
Showing up on time for an appointment
Keeping a promise Surrounding oneself people
Picking up after oneself
Just remembering
Driving and debating courteously Forgiving others
Noticing what needs to be done and doing it
Thinking about the other guy Just coping
Letting grievances drift away Thanking God for another day small pleasures
Remembering the past, but living in the present
Apologizing for something done intentionally or not
Just experiencing
Going to a religious service of another with positive of faith at least once
Learning about the many organizations that help others
Volunteering on a regular basis for someplace or someone
Exploring tithing or determining how much to give to nonprofits
Just realizing Recognizing we are a nation of many cultures and faiths
Relishing America’s democracy and rule of law
Wanting to do my part to build a peaceful world
Understanding words can deeply as wounds
Just listening
Studying candidates’ positions on issues
Voting wisely not emotionally Partnering with people who address problems
Respecting those who think differently
Just trying
Being true to oneself Appreciating family and friends Realizing the world is very large and I play a very small part
Providing a sense of hope to the next generation
Scott Hubbard, an editor for "Desiring God" and a pastor in an article, "Plan Like a Christian, Five Principles for a New Year" writes: “As a type-A calendar and to-do list kind of person, I need to remember something else too: sometimes, hurt as those who plan act a little much like God .... Sometimes, we reduce planning to prayerless reason and pro-con lists, tools of self-reliant minds. Sometimes, we don’t even say under our breath, "If the Lord wills." We are made in the image of a planning God, and those who plan sometimes take the image and forget the God.”
Hubbard’s Five Principals for planning in the new year are:
1 “Plan like a mortal: rough drafts”
1 “Plan like a child: Our wisdom is small, our foresight fallible”
1 “Plan like a worshiper: Plan to pursue God”
1 “Plan like a dreamer: Some good works call for far-seeing vision”
1 “Plan like a sub-planner: We are planners with a lowercase p”
What Matters might only be a “rough draft” for me, not others. I understand, my vision is “small.” Moreover, I believe there is a Divine Planner, yet God has granted humans free will and a beautiful inclination for planning. I imagine, as we try to sort things out as best as we can on earth as thinking, feeling, and planning creatures, it’s a bit of a thank you note and deep bow to our creator.
Judy Knotts is a parishioner of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, and former head of St. Gabriel's Catholic School and St. Michael's Catholic Academy.
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