I spent New Year's Eve reading my journals from 2011. In them, I rediscovered what God has done in our lives. I found on those pages a tender care I had missed in the flurry of constant change, of transition from one kind of life to another. I have already been given instruction in how I should live--through Bible study, situations, books, words of friends, and inner impressions.
But I have not paid attention.
My focus for this year is to actually put into practice what I have already been directed to do. I don't need new goals. I need to do what I already understand.
This is a surprise. I thought I needed a new strategy, a new vision. But here it is, right in front of me. I did not see it before. I have been shown, along the way, how to live well. It is enough.
In addition, there is one more thing I need to pay attention to. I need to notice what has already worked best. What are the changes which have been significant? What are the top ten changes I'm glad I made last year? In the last ten years? The last twenty? These hold wisdom for now. They can tell me what I need to know.
Wisdom from 10 Changes I'm Glad I Made Over the Last 20 Years
When I looked at my personal history this way, I found a recurring pattern. My best changes entailed:
1. Sacrifice: Each of my significant choices required a sacrifice. I paid a price for them which cost me. It means there are other things I could not have done or will not do.
2. Risk: With each choice, success was not guaranteed: there was considerable risk. I was unsure of the results. And it mattered.
3. Social Courage: My significant choices were challenged by others around me. They were unpopular options. People who genuinely cared about me were skeptical and concerned. Even more, these choices required that I paddle against the current of culture and convention. In every case, I disappointed or frustrated the expectations of others. I had to be willing to disappoint, willing to risk others thinking less of me.
4. Conviction: In each instance, I had a conviction which I could not shake that this was a choice I must make if I followed my conscience fully. I could not reconcile myself to alternative plans. There were plenty of pragmatic reasons to do otherwise. But my heart said yes, and I agreed to follow my heart, and that has made all the difference.
Is it possible that a satisfying and meaningful life is filled with decisions which require sacrifice, risk, social courage, and conviction? What do you think? Are there decisions like this for you now, or ones you are glad you made?
13 comments:
Great post! I had a lot of #3 in my life last year when I did a year long blogging project. Everyone close to me had issues with it but at the end the people that mattered most to me were cheering me on.
Changes that you know you need to make can be places where God shows His glory strongest.
I agree with both you and Jason about risk and possibly disappointing others.
Much of my focus this year will be remaining open and not hyper-intentional.
Wise words, Cassandra.
This reminds me of the verse in Haggai which states: "consider your ways." It's so easy to lose track of both our ways and His ways.
I really, really like this, Cassandra. So often, I think, we discount the growth of our past years. Your post here recognizes this important truth: along the journey we've changed, and made adjustments according to those deep convictions. Thank you for this reminder.
What a list of "places" your heart has been. None of those four places are easy strolls in the park. But each of them creates character and long-term God-centeredness.
Totally get where you are coming from. A writer totally understands this and me as a person does, too, for I have had to make those decisions and take those risks.
Such wisdom here, Cass. Obviously, because you've dared to take each of these steps, you have grown and stretched and become a person of greater substance and faith. I have never seen a New Years list quite like this. It a reflective template that I would guess very few souls can actually claim. You are one of them. Looking forward to see where God takes you further in this adventure!
You are wise beyond your years, dear one!
Sacrifice has been huge in my life. It seems every time I want to accomplish something, or make a change it requires sacrifice of some kind. A new job means leaving the old one, a new walk with God means doing something different. New requires sacrifice of the old. Great thoughts, I think most of us could do with more action and less goals. Most of us know more than we put into practice.
Good post --- we should all take the time to reflect and then move on to the new, whatever form it comes in, blessings of living and being loved by Him.
I haven't been here in a while -- but I am recommitted to reading you on a regular basis because I am always blessed when I read here.
Happy New Year.
Thank you, friends!
Reading your words is so refreshing. Thank you. Things I've noticed about decisions that require sacrifice/risk/courage/conviction: the making of those decisions because we have reason to is a comforting thing during times of doubt - we know that the reason is there, we know that our priorities demanded the decision. I guess it's that the conviction encourages us that the sacrifice/risk/courage was worth it, even if the end result is still a long way off.
Post a Comment