A Starting Place

During this season, a great deal of time is spent pondering the future and talking about all that lies ahead, and all that we are going to do to bring meaningful change to our lives and the lives of others around us. Resolutions are offered as verbal proof of our good intentions. Sometimes we follow through...sometimes we don't. In the heat of the moment, the shadow of guilt, or the blazing light of inspiration brought on by the threshold of another new year, it is easy to make resolutions, but the dark, cold days of January have a way of tempering our good intentions, and the momentum of hopeful expression gives way to the deflation brought on by the difficulty of following through.

Perhaps we try to change too much...to so radically change our lives that given our other responsibilities and distractions, our actions simply can't keep pace with our good intentions. Perhaps there is one thing, one aspect, one characteristic we could focus on and from that one focal point, meaningful change could truly occur.

Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."(John 13:34-35, TNIV) We often speak of impacting the world around us and we think globally, as we should. But what if we allowed that love to impact our world, beginning right where we live, work, go to school, and worship. What if, for this new year, we focused on loving others as Christ has commanded. Would such radical change make a difference?

Maybe that's a starting place for you and me. Losing weight, managing time more effectively, taking up a new hobby, keeping your room clean...these are all worthy goals, but maybe, just maybe, making the love of Christ the priority for the new year will help you and me put everything in its proper perspective.

May the love of Christ be yours to share throughout 2010!

Jim Abernathy