It is the middle of January. How are we doing on those New Year’s resolutions? I have a love-hate relationship with them. I would love to have the discipline of making a life changing resolution and then keeping it. Sadly, I fall into the category of allowing my resolution to fall by the wayside all too quickly. I cannot tell you how many times I have set out to eat better or lose weight only to dive into a delicious king cake just a week into the new year. Or plunge into decluttering a closet, the pantry or my life only to abandon the whole idea, well, right about now.

If you are still going strong, then good for you! Keep up the good work. However, if you are more like me, might we consider an alternative. Instead of trying to keep some pie in the sky resolutions, how about replacing them with a few modifications. For example, instead of trying to lose weight or build muscle, what if we worked on building relationships. Maybe put down the remote and spend more time talking with friends and family. Instead of fasting from fatty foods, let’s fast from social media and all those gaming apps and videos that eat up our time and attention. Let’s step away from those monitors and perhaps step into some type of mission. Imagine what we could do or accomplish if we spent more time face to face and less time in front of a screen?

You might be surprised by the positive effect missional endeavors will have on your body, mind and spirit. When we do for others, it not only changes the way we look at people who are different from us, but it also changes the way we feel about ourselves. It will often get you out of doors, depending on the project, and have you moving more. It can often increase your knowledge and sensitivity to the needs in your community and those around you. I can’t tell you how many times I have come away from a missional opportunity blessed by the experience and the people I have met. I can honestly say I usually get more out of it than any New Year’s resolution I have ever made.

On the journey,

Ramonalynn Bethley
First United Methodist Church of Alexandria