Just Say ‘no’ to New Year’s Resolutions

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This is the time of year we make resolutions, most of which are broken by Valentine’s Day, if not before. We vow to exercise daily, cut back on our sugar consumption, read a book a week, clean out the garage, landscape the yard, etc.

A few years ago I became so discouraged at my inability to follow through on my resolutions that I resolved NOT to make resolutions that year!

Nevertheless, I acknowledge that it’s beneficial to approach a new year with some intention for focus and faithfulness. I was pondering what I should do this year when I saw this prayer by Thomas Merton, twentieth century monk and mystic:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will doesn’t mean that I am actually doing so.

But, I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And, I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” Thomas Merton.

So, this is my resolution for 2015: By the grace of God and the dependence on the Holy Spirit, I want to desire to please my Father in thought, word and deed.

Blessings for the New Year

Sara Anderson
bristol303@yahoo.com
Bristol House, Ltd.

Sara Anderson
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