I was thinking about New Year’s resolutions this week and rejoicing that I hadn’t broken mine yet. I am so proud of myself and all the willpower I have. I am just amazing! Are you ready to here what my resolution is? (pause) It is to make no resolutions for 2011! (Aren’t I clever?)
Of course, I am just joking about making such a promise, though it is one I think I could finally achieve. I have always thought of January 1 as just another day, starting one second after the end of the last day, but it has somehow seemed appropriate to quickly evaluate the previous year and make a resolution or two to make the new year better. In the past I have vowed to lose weight, read my Bible more, be more efficient at work, and a host of other things. Usually the specifics of my commitments have been too extreme and my willpower too weak. Before the month is over, I have usually failed to keep my promises.
The tradition of the NYr (New Year’s resolution) began around 2000 B.C. supposedly with the Babylonians as they made promises to pay off their debts and return borrowed goods. Later on, the Romans turned it into more of a pagan religious tradition of promising good conduct in the New Year in order to please the fictitious god, Janus. An interesting mythological god, he was said to have two faces, using one to look into the past year while at the same time peering into the future with the other. As the guardian of endings and beginnings, I can see why they would have wanted his favor.
So, did you make a resolution this year? Have you made any in the past? Has it been motivated by serving God better in the new year? Have you ever succeeded? Are you still on track with this year’s? I would love to read everyone’s thoughts on the subject. Post a comment and let’s see what unique resolutions everyone has made. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, so if you have made it this far you are well on your way to success. Maybe one of you will inspire the rest of us!