Most of All...

As I tried to decide how I wanted to start the New Year here, all that kept coming to mind was resolutions. But I didn’t really want to write about that. Not that I have anything against resolutions per se. Personally, I don’t make them but I know that they work for a lot of people, so whatever. It’s more of the fact that it’s just so overdone. I mean, who isn’t writing about New Year’s resolutions right now? Whether it’s something about how to keep your resolution, or it’s why you don’t need to or shouldn’t make them because they don’t really work anyway, the topic just seems to be everywhere.

But in the end, the turn of a new year does hold some significance and it’s hard to ignore that. If nothing else, for me, it’s at least a time review and evaluate. And in doing that, I was reminded of something that I posted a couple years ago on another site. I didn’t write a whole lot about it at the time, and I had always intended to re-post it at some point. The more I thought on it, the more I realized that it was exactly what I wanted to start the New Year with.

You see, years ago I bought a CD by a group called “Benjamin.” They were fronted by Benjamin Gaither (of The Gaither Family fame) and to my knowledge it’s the only CD they put out. There were some decent songs on there but what has always stuck in my mind is a spoken word intro to one of the songs. It’s by Brennan Manning, author of the books “Abba’s Child” and “Ragamuffin Gospel”, among others. It’s just a short prayer, but it packs a serious punch, especially at this time when so many people are making resolutions for how they want to live in the coming year.


“Abba, Dear Father. If I had my life to live over again I’d climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. But most of all I would love Your Son Jesus and those around me, and I would let them know before life’s evening. If I had my life to live over again, I’d take a few more chances next time. I’d have more real problems and fewer imaginary ones. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daisies. I’d go barefoot earlier in the spring. I’d stay out later in the fall. But most of all I’d love Your Son Jesus and those around me, and I would let them know before life’s evening.”


I’ve always loved that and have aspired to live my life in that fashion. To be enamored with and experience God’s creation to the fullest. To slow down a bit and take the time to just enjoy life. And to be the kind of person that will take leaps of faith and will focus only on what’s truly important rather then cluttering my daily worries with things that don’t really matter. Granted, I can’t say that I’ve been overly successful in those endeavors, but I’m finding it easier as I get older, especially now that I have my daughter. What an absolute blessing she is. I find myself so intrigued by just watching her experience even the smallest things life has to offer. It reminds me that God’s creation is magnificent and it hasn’t gotten any less so just because I’ve aged. We need to look at it through a child’s eyes once in a while and remember just how awesome He really is.

But there’s more to the prayer than that. And being a Christian, I hate to admit that I used to gloss over the most important part of all, to love Jesus and those around me, and to let them know before life’s evening. After all, that’s what our time here is really all about. Sure, God gave us much to enjoy and to behold, but at the end of the day it all comes down to three things and they are clearly outlined in the Gospels. Matthew 22:37-39 says:

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

There’s the “love God and those around me part.” As for the rest, we find that in Matthew 28:18-20:

18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

So, like I said earlier, I don’t really make resolutions. I choose instead to review and evaluate. To take stock of where I’ve been and look at where I’m headed. Sure, there are things I’d like to do this year. I’d like to spend as much time with my wife and daughter as I possibly can, just enjoying their presence and watching in wonder as my daughter begins to discover this world one piece at a time. (On a related note, I wouldn’t mind dropping a couple of pounds so that I can spend time with my family) I’d like to write more. I only posted fourteen times last year, and I’m pretty sure I can do better than that. Maybe I’ll even start on the book I’ve been thinking about, who knows? I’d like to read more. My pile is growing again and I’d like to get it a little more under control. But most of all I want to love Jesus and those around me, and I want to let them know before life’s evening.