Only about 30% of people even make New Year’s Resolutions anymore. Of them only 20% manage to make a lasting change, having kept their resolution for 2 years (newrepublic.com). On this, the third day of the new year, we’re probably already struggling with the resolutions, or intentions, or goals we’ve set for ourselves in this auspicious year of 2014.
What happens in our minds when we fumble? When we eat that extra helping of dessert we didn’t really quite mean to eat, or binge-watch shows that make us feel like we’d like to dip our minds in some bleach; what we say to ourselves when we fail?
Most of us (me, for one!) live under a very stressful fallacy that we can perform perfectly. That we really can not-fail, not-fumble, not-trip-up. We fail. To focus on failure and on shortcomings can be debilitating. What if we brushed the mistake off instead, took a deep breath, and bravely turned around to do something else? So much energy is wasted in lament and guilt and self-punishment–what if we learned that we would indeed fumble and that when we fumbled, we should simply pick up the ball and try again (I think that football analogy doesn’t quite work…)?
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
hope of things not seen 
Thank you for your message. I needed to hear your words and be reminded of Christ’s message, too. Happy 2014. Love that you are at Trinity!
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