My Yes-olutions

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions.  Haven’t for at least 10 years I’m sure.  There is something about making a promise that you know you will probably break come February.  Or worse yet, January 2.  So why am I feeling so inspired to make “resolutions” (I really don’t like that word) today?   I guess it’s all the talk on Facebook and Twitter about fresh starts, and new beginnings.  Good ol' January 1.  Or maybe my perspective has changed in the last month.  I’ve realized that  I’m in my final 11-or-so months of ministry here in Caracas before I head to Canada for home assignment (ie: furlough if you’re old-school), and I really want to make the best of this time because I know it will go by super-fast.  And I want to land in Canada content to just be me and be where I am….not like a plane heading down for a crash landing, a wounded soldier dragging himself on one arm or a figure skater who’s quadruple jump has gone horribly, horribly wrong.  I think this next year is going to determine how I land in Canada.  But I want to make something different than a resolution…I want to concentrate on just being open, to saying “yes” to a few key things.  My “yes-olutions”, if you will.  I’m aware that I’ve just made up a cheezy  word.  I’m ok with that, I hope you are too.  So prepare yourselves my friends, here are my 2014 “yes-olutions”…

-Yes to what God wants to do in and through me. Yes to making this my posture 365 days a year.

-Yes to the awkwardness of new friendships, and yes to the sadness of knowing I will have to say goodbye soon too.

-Yes to recognizing my highs and lows.  My wins and losses.  Yes to telling someone about them in my journal, blog, or the dreaded Facebook.  Ya, I’m still saying yes to Facebook.

-Yes to feeding my brain.  I don’t take as much time as I should to just spend time learning.  Or thinking.  Have you ever sat and just thought in silence for an hour?  It’s the best.

-Yes to exploration. My neighbourhood.  Caracas.  Venezuela. Canada. That cupboard outside on my patio that I’m afraid to open for fear of what might be inside.

I think I’ll stop there before I get carried away and start saying yes to gelato every other day, because honestly, that’s a real temptation.  Thanks for reading and I guess I’ll just end by encouraging you to think about what YOU will say “yes” to this year….

 Will I say "yes" to opening this cupboard this year?