Resolute I am.
| January 3rd, 2008[in digital and analogue]
Get out from behind the screens. By screens I mean TV and computer. I really don’t watch television except for sports. So, I’m going to try to cut back on my espn intake (this was suggested by the girls). Also, I waste way to much time on pointless internet browsing. If I’m not doing something purposeful, I’m closing the screen.
Mail out some truth and encouragement. Snail mail is making a come back. I will send at least one index card on which I have scribbled a sentence from the Bible per week to whoever pops in my head (maybe you).
Write write write. Let my thoughts and worries and prayers and frustrations spill onto paper. With a gifted B&N card I bought a new journal. I will fill it up this year. Maybe I’ll fill two. Write (at least a little) every day.
Be fruitful. It’s about time we got to obeying this oldest of all commandments. I resolve to increase the size of the Bush family by at least one this year.
Run a marathon. San Diego. Maybe.
Read to Sophia on a daily basis. It’s good for her and me. Besides, maybe it will help her overcome her green crayon addiction.
Memorize Colossians. The Message version. Let it transform me. Let it take root and become my paradigm for life. Let it be my rhythm for life.
Fast from something twice a month. Let myself be challenged and moved by it. The fast will last from sunup to sundown. Food, speech, electricity, work, internet, human contact, etc. The possibilities are endless really. This one should be a blast.
Participate in significant celebration. Let celebration become worship to God. Thanksgiving and Christmas last year changed me because I looked at them in a whole new way. I want to take it even farther this year, rethinking Easter, birthdays, and other significant dates.
Get to know my family. I’ll spend some time this year getting to know a family member that I really don’t know at all. I’m not sure who yet. But, I have quite a few cousins, aunts and uncles that I haven’t seen in . . . well, maybe ever.
Cultivate my marriage. Weekend getaways. Breakfast in bed. Dreaming about future over coffee. I’ll be spending some extra time this year connecting with my wife. (This will probably also help with resolution # 4)
Keep blogging. I’ve been blogging for years, but am just now realizing the potential it has for community, inspiration, and encouragement.
Give until it hurts. Let our abundance be a blessing to others. IJM. Compassion. Kiva. WorldVision.
Co-create. Use what I have (and would normally throw away) to make something useful or beautiful or both.
Great post. I love sending snail mail. I have always felt also that Easter is one of the most important holidays. I almost feel its more important than even Christmas since its centered around Christ sacrifice for us. I wish more people focused on it more often. It seems as lost as Thanksgiving.
Susan » Yeah, I’m excited about the idea of truly celebrating. I’ve spent so many holidays just trying to get them over with.
Ryan, if you want to really prepare for Easter, a good read is Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado. This past Easter, for some reason, I took it way more seriously than I usually do and it was truly amazing. I think it finally sunk in what Easter is all about and I celebrated just as much on Good Friday because that’s the day He died. Yes, He rose on Easter, but He died on Friday. Just thought I’d mention that book. It’s a quick, easy read.
Leann » Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve heard that the book is really good. I’ll look into it.
Hey Ryan! great resolutions! i started making mine last week…i still havent finished them though. i figured that was you who those cards were coming from. it was crazy though because before i figured out who sent them (i had a hunch but wasnt positive!) the verses really blessed my life and encouraged me. they were exactly what i needed to hear that week. i kept both of them up on my desk to look at (which is often because i am always studying! haha) so again thanks! and thats a great resolution to have! : ) and good luck with that marathon!
Kayla » I’m really glad that they encouraged you. I was wondering if you had any idea where they came from. I think it is really cool that I could send a random verse to someone and then God use it to encourage them. Good stuff.
Marathon, I do need some luck. Like get lucky and break my big toe so I’ll have a good excuse as to why I utterly fail! Can you tell i’m not very confident about this resolution?
Thinking about that marathon. Our neighbor who is also my sisters’ brother in law runs in the San Diego marathon with his brother who lives in San Diego. They do it for fun and really love the excitement of it. Its not about finishing but about doing something meaningful between two brothers. They are both originally from Little Rock.
Susan » That is very cool. That’s kind of the whole reason it is one of my goals. A buddy of mine who is serving in Iraq right now asked me if I’d run it with him when he gets home.
Perfect reason…that’s the least you could do for him. =)
Susan » Yeah! We’ll see if I make it. In the meantimes . . . I better start running!
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