“It’s the cycle of life, the inherent urge to grow, found among every living thing.”
Photograph by my daughter Bria. I chose it specifically to represent this post because it portrays renewal–the cycle of life inherent to every creation.
So do you have trouble keeping new schedules? This quote well-summarizes my gut feelings and ritualistic practices every new year:
“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.” –Eric Zorn
It happens every year, starting the day after Christmas. I don’t have to think about it or plan for it; it is as involuntary as sneezing–the urge to start fresh, start new habits, clean the house, reorganize the closets, yadda, yadda.
I love it. But I can sense these sweet people who have to live with me thinking, “Why are we making another schedule?” So I cut their questions off at the pass and offer the answer before they even ask…”I know our last schedule fizzled out, but perhaps schedules and routines are living like that.” (There are great advantages to being an optimist ;-)) “Maybe we haven’t found the right one; or maybe life is just about the ebb and flow of reassessing, redoing and recommitting to improvement…in every area, on a regular basis.”
They aren’t totally convinced, but they humor me, and so begins our new year purging and implementing our “getting back into shape” routine. This time used to make me feel like a failure. Until it dawned on me how natural this process is. It’s how we were created–forgetful creatures, prone to gravitate toward laziness or procrastination unless we cultivate the stamina to revisit goals and recommit to achievement. It’s the cycle of life, the inherent urge to grow, found among every living thing.
Seasons, change, growth.
Isn’t our spiritual life the same way? Is it any wonder why God had His people celebrate rituals and days of remembrance? Isn’t is why we are commanded to observe the Sabbath? To “do this in remembrance of Me“? To continually refresh our hearts and repent, and renew our minds?
That’s it–RENEW. We are creatures with the need to continually renew. Otherwise, we become stagnant.
So, this year, it’s not revisiting an area of failure. It’s renewing with vigor!
7 comments
Great post, Kelly. Our family feels like it is in a new season.
You hit the nail right on the head! I can beat myself up this time of year wanting us to declutter and refocus……and my kiddos and husband look at me and say, “Again!?”
I love the quote you had, “….how natural this process is. It’s how we were created–forgetful creatures, prone to gravitate toward laziness or procrastination unless we cultivate the stamina to revisit goals and recommit to achievement. It’s the cycle of life, the inherent urge to grow, found among every living thing.”
Ah, there may still be hope today with the guilty feelings and added dash of failure,too.
Thanks for the encouragement, Kelly.
What a wonderful, refreshing way to think of the feelings so many of us have this time of year! I’ve never heard it put this way before. I now have a very positive way to consider my day – as I just finished up a much-needed workout and go back to putting old toys in storage boxes! 🙂
Thank you for encouraging us in this way!
“…it is as involuntary as sneezing–the urge to start fresh, start new habits, clean the house, reorganize the closets…”
This is exactly my experience–many people’s, apparently, given the sales on plastic storage bins, calendars and planners!
I was thinking about animals that molt, sloughing off the old stuff that’s not needed to make room for new.
Yours is a more profound thought weaving in the rhythm of Sabbath.
Working, resting, slowing, renewing.
Beautiful.
Yes and with just moving & Christmas we are out of our routine.
I am so ready for this fresh start!
thank you for this!!!! blessings, jen in al
So glad to know I’m not the only one who has to start things over….and over. Thank you for the beautiful words of encouragement.