I have always been a New Year's Resolution type person because I love
setting new goals and having something to use as a tool to evaluate my
progress. Some resolutions get repeated every year, some get tweaked,
some serve their time and are crossed off the list, and some are just
ridiculous and get tossed by January 21. For the past 4 years I
have had at least one resolution that has stayed the same: to be more
fun. I mentioned this one to the children at breakfast recently to
see how I was doing. I, personally, felt that I had been more fun but, apparently, the children didn't notice. Note to self: have
more fun WITH children in 2013...or at least when they're watching.I also like to read through other people's resolutions. Sounds voyeuristic, I know, but you can learn an awful lot about another person by looking at their immediate and long-term goals. I have a framed print in my office of 70 Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, pastor and theologian of the First Great Awakening. He wrote these over the years of 1722 and 1723.
I read one or two of these every day. Some of them I really identify with, some are hard to understand, and some I don't even like. Since one of the resolutions that I have completely ignored this year is to be more faithful with blog writing I am going to try a brief weekly post on each of these resolutions - for my own benefit and anyone else who stumbles across them.
His first resolution is this: "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with how many and how great soever."
I like the way he puts the priority of his decision making: 1. Is this to the glory of God? If no, then cross it off the list. If yes, move on to question 2. Is this to my own good? It may be for the glory of God but is this something that God has given to ME to do? If no, then cross it off my list for the time being or delegate it on to someone else or make it a matter of prayer that the right person will take it on. If it is something that I should do then question 3 comes into play: How do I do it in a way that it works for the most good for the advantage of mankind in general?
So, here's a resolution for me on April 22, 2013: Resolved, to make my decisions about my time based on three things - 1. God's glory 2. My personal place and priorities as I understand them and 3. To do those things in a way that would be of the best advantage for others.
...including blogging.
