"To be alive is to be broken; to be broken is to stand in need of grace. It is only through grace that any of us could dare to hope that we could become more like Christ."

-- Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

Sometimes to improve, you must remove. To enhance, you must lance. Increasing might require decreasing. You get the idea. For example, to improve your health might require reducing or eliminating certain foods from your plate and other practices from your routine. Or, to get your finances healthy, you might need to eliminate debt and curb undisciplined spending. Less can be more.

With this concept in mind, I offer my "anti-resolutions" for 2010. These are not your typical "I promise to do..." or "I will" statements. Rather, these are the ideas and activities that I am committing to avoiding in the coming year (and hopefully beyond). I hope these might prove inspirational to you as you consider the goals you want to set and achieve in your future. Don't neglect the very real component of elimination as a means to success and true joy in life.

1. I WILL NOT consider myself to be anything, except a wretch rescued by God's grace. (I figured I would start with the easy ones first, then work my way up to the really tough anti-resolutions)
    
2. I WILL NOT cheapen grace and love by pretending I don't need either, or deceiving myself (and others) into thinking I could earn them. I don't deserve anything good...
    
3. I WILL NOT deny or succumb to my fears. Anxiety is often present in me, seeking to paralyze me from action. It is real, it is present, but I won't let it corner me any longer.
    
4. I WILL NOT pretend that what others think of me doesn't matter. Unfortunately, I am a people-pleaser. I care what others think, but I won't lie about it any longer. (Hopefully, this flaw will be healed in time...)
    
5. I WILL NOT serve money, food, or titles. While I am prone to inappropriately desire these things, I will not allow them to master me or become my gods.
    
6. I WILL NOT ignore my role as husband and father. Even in my terror and inadequacy in these roles, I will not run away from the responsibilities they require of me.
    
7. I WILL NOT say "yes" too much or "no" not enough. After all, sometimes to improve, one must remove, right?
    
8. I WILL NOT categorize my fellow humans. There is no race, gender, nation, or tribe that is greater or lesser. I am no better than anyone or in any lesser need of grace and forgiveness than another. I will not stand superior to a brother (or sister).
    
9. I WILL NOT stifle laughter, choke back tears or "mask" emotion. If you happen to be with me during these moments, and such transparency embarrasses you, I will not apologize for it.
    
10. I WILL NOT engage in false, contrived dialogue. If I have nothing to say, I will have nothing to say. (I feel a much quieter year coming on!)
     
11. I WILL NOT drink from the cup of "that's the way we've always done it." The winds of change keep my sails taut, therefore I will not seek to avoid alterations to my course.
     
12. I WILL NOT step on insects just to hear them crunch. (Sorry, nature lovers, for confessing such sadism)
     
13. I WILL NOT assume to have answers or discard my ever-increasing questions. With each passing year I have fewer answers and exponentially more questions. I will not be ashamed of this fact of (my) life.
     
14. I WILL NOT do anything because it is what I am "supposed" to do (as defined by culture or other man-made institutions). In fact, I might try doing the opposite just to see what reactions I get...
     
15. I WILL NOT agree with atheism, homosexuality, or communist philosophy, yet neither will I avoid welcoming with joy genuine friendship with those who hold such views.
     
16. I WILL NOT eat ice cream too fast or chocolate cake too slowly. I don't want to miss the pure bliss of the simple, savory moments of life (some decadence isn't immoral, right?).
     
17. I WILL NOT perpetuate separatism within the church. God did not make a way for only certain kinds of people. All who believe are welcomed into the family and I will not treat any as "lesser." (or greater...sorry, Mr. Osteen.)
     
18. I WILL NOT forget my propensity to sin and, therefore, my perpetual need for help. I am not always the best at asking for help, but at the very least I won't deny my need for it.
     
19. I WILL NOT tell people what they want to hear if it isn't the truth. This may offend some, but it also might bring life and transforming hope to others.
     
20. I WILL NOT miss this place if God chooses to take me home this year. Nothing I would leave behind is worth negotiating for more time here when heaven is the alternative.

So, there you have it. A lot of "not doing" in my near future. How about you? What are you going to eliminate, pare down, shave off in order to be a fuller, richer human being? Remember, you only get one life to live and it only unfolds one day at a time. Make the most of your days...

Tags: blog, grace, resolutions