Less Than 1/3 Of One Percent

Well now, how did we do with making those New Year's resolutions? At this time of year, nearly everyone either consciously or unconsciously makes the decision to do something that they have been putting off. Part of the difficulty with resolutions is that we usually resolve to do something that will take a while to accomplish. When we get several days or weeks or more into the new year and the goal has not been achieved, discouragement sets in and the rationalization about why what we hoped for isn't happening begins. Maybe it would be helpful to understand that the small steps necessary to take a long journey need to be taken pretty much one at a time. Being content with small advancement is the key to actually achieving the intention of our resolutions.

As I write this, day one of 2015 is nearly over. Rather than consider how far I need to go to make my resolutions reality, I'm going to consider how far I should expect to be at any given point in the year. Most things we resolve to do are not things that happened quickly (that twenty pounds I hope to lose didn't get gained overnight and it won't be lost that way either). Assuming  a resolution to change may take all year (I know, I know. Who has all year?), then I need to consider how far down the road toward the goal I should be. One day out of three hundred sixty-five in 2015 is over. I should be 1/365 of the way to completing the change I set out to make.

The catch, of course, is that we're talking less than one third of one percent when we consider the fractional part of the year one day comprises. Actually, my resolution for the last several years has been the same and probably will be for the remaining New Years with which I may be blessed. I resolve to try to be more Christ-like in my life. Does that have anything to do with Out of the Woodwork? Of course it does; because that is one place where I will continue to interact with other people and that is where being Christ-like becomes possible. No matter what your hopes for the New Year may be, understand that it doesn't take much to get 1/365 of the way to the goal. In the case of resolving to follow Christ, the journey on this side can never be complete. He is perfect and I will never be. His grace and love will sustain any who choose to follow Him and if I can get the distance between Him and me just 1/365 closer, it was good day. May all who may take time to read my ramblings have a blessed year ... one day at a time.