Looking back

So I think my post yesterday was a bit serious when it came to the topic of something rather trite like New Year’s resolutions.  I still mean every word of it, but here’s my explanation of why my one “pursuit” of the year (I really despise the term “resolution,” for some reason) is to be in the Word every day.

My goals for last year were as follows:

1. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier.
2. Take that 1 1/2 hours I’ll have before Chickpea wakes up and spend it worshipping the Lord in various ways.
3. Get rid of everyday clutter so that our home stays clearer and cleaner.
4. Get back into shape.

I have to say I did pretty well with these, overall - at least during the first six months, when life was  saner.  I really did go to bed earlier than usual - 11 p.m. at the very latest, more often at 10 p.m. - which made #2 much easier.  I’m blessed with a sleeper-inner, which I know means I’ve got my day coming when we decide to go forth with another bundle o’ joy, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying the fact that her average wake-up time is 8:30.  Spending those dark hours of the morning with just me and the Father was THE reason life was good last year.  I know it.

And I can say yes, I did declutter the house, because we sold all but the kitchen sink and crammed the remainder into a 5×5 storage unit.  So if you count no longer having a home, then I’d say you decluttered it.  You de-homed yourself.  I’m so ready for a place of our own again, but that’s another topic for another day.  It’s really quite amazing how little you really need, but it is nice to have a bed of your own.

And finally, I did get somewhat back into shape, though I saw a very sharp downward slope back in to more out-of-shapeness the second half of the year.  I know it mostly has to do with the insane life we led, which I won’t get into - but when you spend your days raising support and making what’s left of your home function, and then spending three months mostly in a car, with the occassional stop to sit in a chair 8 hours a day for weeks at a conference, stopping only to eat, it’s slightly more challenging to have a workout regimen.  Lame excuse, I know, and I’m a little bummed that I did so well at the beginning of the year, only to pretty much un-do it the second half of the year, but I’m not going to beat myself up about it.  There are bigger fish to fry right now, and I look forward to getting back on the wagon soon.  Heck, this year I anticipate spending a lot of my day walking everywhere, since that’s what they do in our country (and we won’t have a car), and eating much fresher food, since you typically buy just a few days’ rations at a time at the local market.  I have a sneaky suspicion I might improve my health without even trying too hard.  We shall see.

I’m starting to ramble, so I’ll get to my original point, which was why I chose this year only to focus on spending every day in the Word.  The reason is because of what I said regarding #2 above - last year there was a distinct correlation between my intimacy with the Father and everything else in life just kinda falling into place.   When I daily handed over any earthly strength I had and exchanged it for that which can only come from the Father, then I slept better, my home was cleaner, I was in better health, and I smiled at the days to come.  And I don’t mean that the Word was a lamp to rub for a magical genie, but I can attest to what has been true in my life, and that is this - God created me to need Him to survive, thrive and live life abundantly.  He will take care of my needs, and when push comes to shove, I really need only look to Him.

Those other things, they are good things - it is good to take care of home, body, relationships.  But for me this year, if I focus on those things, to the detriment of spending time with my Father, then I consider that a loss.  I have so much coming at me in the next few months, I have a deep-seeded yearning for simplicity.  For me, that means making my main focus the relationship between me and my Heavenly Father.  So that’s that.