2018

The beginning of a New Year offers a reference point, a chance to reflect.

It has been said that New Years Day is just like every other day, so there is no need to treat it any differently or set new goals.  In one sense, this is true, but I disagree - why?  Because we are not often in the habit of reflection on our own lives or how to change for the better.  And so this point of time offers us an invitation to do just that.

For myself, I like to capture the themes that have been in my mind, building to this point.

For 2018 I am aspiring to...

• Live a God-centered, God-enthralled life.  (Choosing to look away from the abyss of self and my inadequacies, and live instead in the light of His face. Living this way can spark new areas of delighted obedience).
• Share the Gospel more widely. (Bring it up, 'go there,' and leave results to God).
• Choose vulnerability. (Open up, speak up, share strong opinions, ask for help, and more).
• Do something totally new and fun. (...something I've never done before!)
• Do whatever I need to do to get active again. (My degenerative arthritis disease is an ongoing issue, constantly popping up in new joints.  BUT it will not have the last word!)
• THINK. (Rather than taking an easy road of popular opinion, expend more energy to research and analyze controversial topics and make decisions.)
• Simplify my thinking. (Choose faith above over-analyzing).
• Justice. (Take action. Raise funds. Give sacrificially. Source more ethically).
• Screen Limits. (Choose time limits so that I'm not looking at my phone every 8 seconds. Train my brain away from this addictive behavior).

No one ever accused me of being an underachiever!

Later I will take these goals and craft some actionable, time-specific goals to bring these ideas from paper into my reality.  

"Most people don't show up for their own life."  -Jillian Michaels

I want to show up, really show up, and choose radical obedience of Jesus.  

Pondering the end of my life, I would regret not living more radically for Jesus above all else.