New & Better Resolutions

Dear Fellow Travelers,
I do not make New Year’s resolutions for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I cannot keep them. A “resolution” has the smell of a promise and, surely, we all know that we do not keep promises, well, not very consistently anyway. It seems like the more passionately we promise not to do something, the stronger the urge to do it, and we all-too-often cave in to the urge.
As I finished writing those words, my eyes fell upon these words from Jesus: “. . . for I only do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). Now, if I were going to make a New Year’s resolution this would be it: From now on, like Jesus, I will only do the things that are pleasing to Him!
Yes, I know what you are thinking and you are correct; I will not follow through, I will not keep this resolution! Yes, I might have good intentions about keeping it, but good intentions do not equate with keeping resolutions (promises). The fact is this: If I could keep this one resolution, I would not need a Savior, and believe me, I need One—every day and all day!
What I am attempting to say is this: If you are going to insist on making some New Year’s resolutions, please do not set the standard so high that you cannot possibly reach it, e.g. “From now on, like Jesus, I will only do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Instead, be realistic and make resolutions that are more in line with your abilities. Let me offer a few: During 2009, I resolve (1) to do a better job at pursuing my own desires; (2) to put more effort into judging and condemning others; (3) to find more effective ways to waste my money; (4) to seriously seek someone who is doing nothing, so I can join him (her); (5) to discover more ways to be against something, rather than discovering ways to be for something; (6) to create a more effective facade, one that will do a better job of disguising my true opinion of myself; (7) to spend more time developing and strengthening my superstitions and less time learning to pray.
Since 7 is the perfect number, I will stop with these; however, I honestly believe that we will be much more likely to keep these resolutions than the ones we usually make, and, I might add, these will tend to keep us aware of our desperate need for our Savior!
Mac Goddard
01/02/09