dailydatewithgod

Especially at this time of the new year we reflect on where we might like the year to go.  Some set resolutions, others create goals, and some refuse to do any of it in protest.  I vacillate between the two options. A part of me resists because it seems like such an arbitrary distinction. Just because someone thousands of years ago decided that January 1st was the beginning of a new year, I am now supposed to evaluate the trajectory of my life for the next 365 days?  Where is that man in the toga now?  How many resolutions did he stick to?  I certainly know that habits create our lives.  Our habits are formed by actions stemming from our thinking and feeling.  I also believe strongly in the power of reflection and creation.  I just resist being told by every success mogul and magazine that it must be done now for the whole year.  Perhaps because of my experience in recovery, I have a slightly different take.  I bring it down a notch.  I do my best to be in the day I am in.  I start off my day on my date with God and hope the time of reflection and openness is enough to get me on the path where I can be of most use and therefore at peace with myself and others.  There are certainly things I would like to have or experience in my life but I know that they don’t happen with sweeping resolutions and goals.  The habits which build success are formed from the day-to-day actions. Those actions are an outgrowth of my thoughts and feelings.  Choosing to begin this day on my prayer and meditation date with God is the single most powerful choice I can make.  I started it not thinking I would do it for a whole year or even a whole week.  I started because I was willing to do it for the day.  I began with two minutes, it was a quicky!  Little by little and day by day I began to set aside more time until I found myself 15 years later not imagining beginning my day let alone a year any other way.  When the world is screaming at us to set our course for the year, maybe we can dial it back for ourselves.  Instead of asking what are my goals and intentions for this year  we could try out some different options: What am I willing to do with my day today?  What might God have in store for me today?  Am I willing to look for evidence of love today?