First, a confession:
I’m going to be honest about this blogging thing: I loved it, at first. I loved sharing my heart and my plans and the things God was revealing to me. I like having a place to process in writing. I like connecting imagery to what I am feeling. But at some point in the last few months I contracted “this blog has to be better than the last one” syndrome. It felt like I needed to one-up myself. If I was worried about something (i.e. packing) that I had claimed in an earlier post I would not stress about, I certainly couldn’t backslide and share how I was actually feeling…right? What would my supporters think? What would the other racers think? I guess being able to look back at how I was feeling 9 months ago shines a different light on how am feeling now and it sometimes illuminates the dust I’ve let gather in places that I shouldn’t have.
So today, the first day of an incredible year, I’m picking the pen (or the macbook) back up and displaying my dusty corners for the world to see.
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” T.S. Eliot
There is just something about the first day of a new year. It’s like looking out the window the morning of a snow day, or getting a brand new journal. It’s fresh and clean and unblemished. I typically approach this day with a list of resolutions, new hobbies, and relationships to be more intentional about. This list is undeniably well-intentioned, but let’s be real. It never happens the way I write it out. So 2015, no list for you.
Instead of the list, I am writing a mission statement. A mission statement summarizes the values that guide an individual’s actions. It is a reminder of what they do and why they do it. As I hike, fly, drive, and run into this next season of my life, I want to go with purpose and intentionality.
“To live a life modeled after Christ – seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all things, combatting fear with the promises of God – and to be a sharpening and uplifting member of my family, community, and world.”
Seems simple, right? One sentence. (The “One ring to rule them all” line just played in my head.) There will be days when this one sentence seems impossible. There will be moments when community living is the worst. There will be projects that I want to plan and control myself. When these times come, I will remind myself of this statement. This is who I want to be. This is who I am called to be. 2015 – let’s do this.
