Happy New Year, Habersham! It is privilege to live and work in such an uplifting and supportive community. The New Year always brings to mind the people and places we are thankful for. The New Year also reminds us that we have been given a fresh start, an opportunity to resolve to change certain behaviors or attitudes. How many of you make resolutions? Better question, how many of you keep your resolutions? I know I am guilty of having lofty goals for the New Year. This year I am choosing to keep things simple, and I am focusing on a couple key areas: time management and relationships.
Time management is one of the most difficult and the most important lessons we can learn. How do we seek to establish sustainable time management goals? In 2016, I want keep up with a planner, be realistic with deadlines I set for myself, and, most importantly, take a realistic approach to how much I can fit into a day.
Time is a limited resource. When we give time to someone or something that is time that we are not giving to something or someone else. Teach me, Oh Lord, to number my days, and to live with an eternal perspective (paraphrased from Psalm 90:12). Teach me and lead my in establishing priorities, learning to say no, and protecting time that I have set aside to spend with you.
Learning to manage my time better directly affects the value that I place on my relationships. This year I want to practice less activity and more intentionality. Intentionality certainly promotes activity, but activity does not necessarily lead to intentionality. I adopted this idea from the saying, “Less is more.” I believe that the Lord is leading me to focus less on packing my schedule with activities because I believe they will lead to greater relationships. Instead, He is leading me to invest more in the depth versus the breadth.
The Bible says in Hebrews 10, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” From Proverbs 27, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Additionally, Jesus says in John 15, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Paul also speaks of a marriage relationship, saying submit yourselves to one another, and love sacrificially (paraphrased from Ephesians 5).
Obviously, there is a great emphasis placed on relationships throughout the old and new testaments in the Bible. What then shall we learn? Jesus values relationship. He values it with us, and he values the relationships we share with others. This year I want to show a greater intentionality towards deepening my relationships: loving, encouraging, and challenging my family and friends and showing hospitality and service towards them.
Now it’s your turn. What are your goals, Habersham? What do you resolve to change or refocus this year? I pray that the Lord would guide you as you self evaluate. I also pray for you and yours as we transition into 2016! Happy New Year!
