I learned a lot in 2008. Perhaps more than I wanted to learn, since lessons can be difficult for the hard-headed. But I thought I would share some insights for the new year. After all, I don't believe in resolutions; I believe in actions. What I do believe should happen in the new year is that we can all look at what we've gone through in the past year, and "resolve" to learn from our mistakes. So here goes:
1. What goes up must come down. No, I'm not talking about gravity, though I'm told this is also true in the realm of physics. What I'm talking about is that when life gets to be so good that you're happier than you've ever been, the only place to go from there is down. And it's usually waaayyyy down. I heard a song the other day, and I don't know what song it was or even what kind of music I was listening to, but I just remember the words went something like, "The same friends you saw on your way up, you'll see coming down." I hit the ground hard in 2008. I thought I had it all together, but "let him who stands take heed lest he fall." In 2009, I'll be better prepared for Newton's law.
2. You see it how you call it. 2008 was the year of regrettably fulfilled prophecies for me. It seems like everything I said might happen, did. I kept predicting the worst case scenario, and then witnessing it. And I couldn't help but wonder, if I had never called it, would it have ever happened? Am I tapping in to my psychic powers, or is there such thing as speaking things into existence? "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." It doesn't feel any better to know that you predicted something once it happens. If anything, you feel stupid for continuing down a path you knew was headed straight for a cliff. In 2009, I'll try to maintain a positive outlook on everything, and more importantly, I'll shut the hell up.
3. God saves us. Simple, right? Well, not always. Sometimes, when you're going down a road you shouldn't be on (or when you're travelling with someone you shouldn't be with), God throws a boulder right in your path that forces you to turn around. Sometimes, He (intentionally) accidentally hits you with the boulder and you have no choice but to wake up from your unconsciousness with a completely different perspective than you had before. Getting hit with a boulder hurts... yes (another concept of physics). But sometimes it's the only way to get your attention, and to make you see just how far you have fallen from the path that was intended for you. This story illustrates this concept (it's also kind of funny if you think about it). "I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me." In 2009, I plan not to get bitten by any (more) asses (God is so clever).
What mistakes did you make in 2008? How will you "resolve" to make it better in 2009? One thing I know for sure is this: all of life's lessons are already written out for us. We just have to take the time to read them. So in 2009, my only real resolution is to gain a closer relationship with God, which comes with prayer and by reading the Bible. That way, I don't have to look at the lessons I've learned in retrospect; but rather, as words on a page that simply stayed right there.
