'Tis the season for New Year's resolutions. I know, I know. I can already see your teenage drama rama eyes roll because you know, like everyone knows these days, that no one ever keeps their New Year's resolutions.
I totally dig the concept of making New Year's resolutions-if there was a facebook group for New Year's resolution maker's, I might even give it the thumbs up "like." Something about intentionally setting pseudo-goals with no pressure to actually reach them each year resonates with my unorganized- to- the- bone soul.
I love talking about my New Year's resolutions because it makes me feel like I'm stickin' it to the man or something-a cheap thrill, like not wearing my seatbelt. I verbally aim for the sky as I lengthily elaborate on all of my intentions, and at the same time have this internal celebration like "the joke's on you." I love that I can pretend- goal set and know that I'm not actually going to do, or have to do, what I say.
This year's a little different I guess. I find myself in a weird place- I've actually already kept, and kind of fulfilled, a New Year's resolution I didn't even know I had. I’m calling this the new, New Year’s resolution.
I'm doing something.
I'm leaving for Phuket, Thailand on January 17th to lead a Passport trip (group o' college women) for four months working with SHE ministries. http://www.shethailand.org/
I know, this is insanely all of a sudden fast…faster than my sister can text on her smart phone…but I also know that God asked me to "put my money where my mouth is" and go.
The first two weeks of January I spent attending Christian conferences in Georgia- they were unique, though, in that they weren't about just listening to a bunch o' happy feel good sermons and smiling our pilgrim selves home- they were about doing something. Something that matters. Something that is eternal. Something…anything.
Anything to end the 27 million people in slavery around the world. Anything to bring God’s truth, hope, light, and love to hurting nations. Anything that means everything for the something more of SomeOne.
So here I am at the World Race conference- pretty zoned out, dreading more clipboard-esque tasks, but attempting to absorb. A staff member catches me off guard as I’m so diligently facebooking, and asks me if I’m Amber Kincaid.
Reverse like five minutes ago- I’m randomly called on stage and wind up telling 100 people not only the infamous “spooky story,” but also that my next goal=to become a squad leader because I come alive when I get to travel and do God stuff by investing in people. I, for some reason, commit + decide, instead of being flaky mcflakerson like I usually am, and was, the entire week when asked to talk about anything practical/grown up-esque/ list-y.
I’m instantly blotchie from nerves because I just know something’s about to go down. She explains to me the complicated situation-the leader of the team=appendix surgery, they need someone until she recovers, I have to decide in a day, etc.
Before I can even attempt to comprehend the details, I know that I have to go. I just got off a stage saying “I’m going” to a bunch o’ randoms, not knowing the when or where, and God literally hand delivers the opportunity.
I know it’s from God because I say yes inside before realizing the trip’s in Asia- the one place I resolved to never go back…(I feel like that kind of thing always happens, and then someone always points out that that kind of thing always happens, but pointing it out never makes anyone feel better)
Here’s where the New Year’s resolution fits in. (Yes, I did the cheesy, cliché Christian thing and googled the word “resolved” in the Bible, but it’s kind of cool.)
“For I resolved to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”-1 Corinthians 2:2
I’m a new, New Year’s resolution maker this year and have resolved to go. Like the verse says, I got nothin’ but the truth of the gospel, which is a whole lot better than my usual “lose ten pound” mantra at the beginning of every year.
Hoping you’ll pray with me-need all the help I can get. Hoping you’ll support me- I’ve gotta raise $2,500 for four months-just click the "Thailand…yo" link on the left side of the page. Thanks for resolving. Here’s to new, New Year’s resolution making.
　
　
　
