A Fresh Beginning

Well, this is it. The beginning of a new year. This day marks a new beginning. The beginning of resolutions, of a fresh start, of a blank slate. This is the year in which I leave my twenties behind, in which I begin my final year of graduate school, in which I (hopefully) publish my first original research paper, and in which a number of unforeseen things will happen that will shape the trajectory of the rest of my life. What things are you looking forward to this year?

2014 was a challenging year. I attended three research conferences, taught a variety of biology and physiology lectures, took my qualifying exam, sang in four concerts, taught bible classes, experienced family upheaval, cried, laughed, made friends, grew friendships, watched my best friend experience the joy of motherhood for the first time, traveled to visit my grandparents twice, attempted to watch my brother get married, but was thwarted by Traffic that held me at a standstill for two hours, and so many other things. I started 2014 with a list of goals for the year. There were twelve books to read, and twelve other goals, including fitness, academic, and financial goals. I’m looking back at my list now – and I think I accomplished four of my twelve main goals. That’s ok. I’m setting new goals this year.

New years make us think of new beginnings, and that’s a good thing. A brand new year, with no mistakes in it – yet. Here’s the thing. We’re all going to blow at least some of the resolutions we make. I spent a number of years just not making resolutions, because then I wouldn’t disappoint myself by breaking them. That didn’t work very well either. You know what’s amazing? Every single day, every single hour, every single minute, every single second is a fresh beginning. So, set your goals this year. If you achieve them perfectly without cheating on that diet, or sleeping in when you were supposed to get on the treadmill, or missing a day in your daily bible reading plan, good for you. The rest of us will need to remind ourselves that fresh beginnings come more often than once a year. That’s one of the things I love about the God I serve – He doesn’t ask me to be perfect on my own. He knows that I can’t be – and that’s why He sent His Son. Jesus makes up the difference when I don’t hit perfection. So, when I sin this year, or when I fail to say just the right thing or choose just the right path, I’m going to admit that. I’m going to tell Him that I’m sorry, that I want to change, and then I’m going to set about letting Him change me. I’m going to set about trying all over again, and about accepting the power of His grace in my life, about telling Him “Thank You” for each fresh start. Because knowing that His grace will make me good motivates me more and more to find goodness and to emulate it in my life.

So, today, with this fresh start, I have goals for my relationship with my God, for my role in His church, for my physical fitness, for my finances, and for my professional life. I want very much to be a better Christian, a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister, a better person. I have goals to be more patient, more kind, more gentle, more loving, more direct, less fearful, more one with Him who made me. I want to publish three papers, begin writing a thesis, read my bible through at least once, teach children’s bible classes at least two quarters, work up to running a 10K or maybe even a half marathon, pay off some small debts, eat more healthy foods, and read a variety of books from a variety of genres. I want to blog at least three times a week. I want to try at least three new recipes every month. I want to find more joy in small things. I could keep going, but I’m overwhelming myself. I’ve always been a big dreamer – and I find that dreaming big brings me closer to meeting goals than not dreaming at all.

What are your dreams for the New Year? What resolutions are you setting for yourself?

In the next few weeks, I hope to blog about teaching children’s bible classes, as well as about some practical ways to make those changes in relationships and attitudes. Stay tune, and God bless!