A New Year’s Resolution

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o, here we go again, right? It is time to make a resolution for the New Year. So, love ‘em or hate ‘em, I am going to at least ask you to think about a resolution—you don’t have to actually make one. (I would like to avoid the whole guilt thing around not being able to keep a new resolution.)
I think it is valuable to consider the state of your life as we begin the year again. Asking the question is worthwhile. How about this question—what is the state of your soul?
When we ask the question about our soul we are looking into that mysterious place where our mind, emotions, body and spirit all connect. Health and Wellness people speak of wholeness.
Religious folks talk about faith and trust in God. Psychologists might speak of something along the lines of emotional well-being or balance. Others might ask how is your spirituality? What would improve it? That is at the heart of this resolution request.
All of us are in need of some type of healing or wholeness. That is a part of being human. This resolution begins in connection, relationship and love. Love holds the key. It is the healer of our souls. Usually when we make a New Year’s resolution, we think of all the ‘hard work’ we need to do to improve whatever part of our lives is in need of ‘fixing.’ When we see and know that God’s love is for us and with us, then we see that the resolution isn’t the ‘work’ we have to do to ‘improve’ ourselves.
The resolution is simply seeing clearly. Christians talk about the ‘good news’ or the ‘gospel’ as the free gift of grace that comes from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus healed those who came to him. He promised a well-spring of life to the woman at the well (John 4:14) and abundant life to all who were listening to him. (John 10:10)
A resolution to improve our soul is nothing more or less than seeing that this gift of life is for you. The little tune of our little life is woven into a much bigger symphony. We are not playing alone in the dark. Listening to the ‘still, small voice’ of God (1 Kings 19:12) is to see the hand of the conductor who leads the orchestra. That is the heart of faith. Let your New Year’s resolution be to listen to the voice of God in your heart and hear the voice of love that leads you.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10