2016 – “How is it possible?” is the question I heard often as we gathered with friends and family over the holiday season. I was asking the question too.
“How is it possible?”
This question makes me think of an old saying….
“Life is like a roll of toilet paper – The more you use the faster it goes!”
It sure feels like life is going by fast!
I suspect that you and I are in a similar space as we step into the reality of a New Year. On one hand we anticipate the opportunity of a “page turned”, we may also feel the weight of the ‘chapter’ to be written in the next year.
As I write this, I am thinking of a friend grappling with the stark reality of a marriage dissolved and a spouse clearly expressing no interest in reconciling. What does this New Year look like for this person as they…
- Look to grow in Christ,
- Lead a growing business,
- Connect in a meaningful way with their kids,
- And, at the same time, learn from the oh-so-difficult-&-painful story of a failed marriage?
What about a recent discussion I had with a business person who is passionate about where God has them. Yet they struggle with the volume on their plate as they work at staying organized so they can “get things done”? Their beautiful, engaging visions and dreams are on hold unless the messy and very-daily-grind of ensuring high value tasks are followed through each and every day.
What do we do with the tension imbedded in these realities – one where we are looking forward to the possibility of something better in the year to come? And on the other hand choosing to not run from what it is to be learned from the past year.
Here are some helpful questions as we transition from one year to the next, helping us engage and enjoy who we are in Christ and not stay stuck in the past.
- What is your mindset as you reflect on the past year? What things were of the flesh and what things were of the Spirit? (Romans 8:5-6)
- Are you able to reflect with joy, not only on the beauty of what occurred in 2015 but for what may have seemed an almost impossible circumstance? In the midst of the challenge, are you experiencing God and His presence in you and through you? (James 1:2-4)
- What areas in your life (home, work, and community), are you sensing God inviting you to grow and trust Him to do His good work? (Luke2:52 & Romans 8:28)
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Self care:
- Physically: ensuring fitness, nutrition and rest are serving and fuelling what God has for you to do
- Emotionally: ensuring you are connecting emotionally well with God, self and others.
- Mentally: ensuring your mind is stretching and growing – learning for a lifetime.
- Spiritually: your practices of solitude and community fuel your connection with God, self, community and mission.
- Home:
- Your home is one of hospitality – a place that serves those living in it and those who enter into it?
- Your finances are in order were you are living with ease – a “living within your means”?
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Core Relationships:
- If married – you and your spouse growing in your sense of “being one in Christ”?
- If a parent – your kids seeing you work at modeling, in all spheres of your world, an authentic life in Christ? They would say you are meaningfully engaged with them – meeting them were they are at?
- Community: you growing in intimacy with a small group of trusted Christ followers who know you and your inner person?
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Business:
- As you consider the parts of your business what areas represent real opportunities for increased ease and less wear and tear?
- You are engaged and able to “show up well”.
- Business purpose and values are clear and lived out by all.
- People and culture are well led.
- Your processes are continuously improving bringing more ease to all involved.
- Your business financials are solid.
- Your sales and marketing efforts produce a steady stream of predictable leads and closed business.
- You are experiencing a sense of blessing and gratitude as you see God using the business to serve and add value to peoples’ lives.
- As you consider the parts of your business what areas represent real opportunities for increased ease and less wear and tear?
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Serving Community:
- You are appropriately connecting with extended family and friends so that they feel loved and supported by you.
- You are investing and mentoring – helping others grow in Christ, becoming more and more like they were meant to be.
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Self care:
A Maverick Application:
At a glance these 3 questions may seem a bit overwhelming. Here are 9 steps you can follow to help leverage this New Year opportunity to pause, reflect and grow.
- Decide to do it. No else can do this for you.
- Block it in your calendar. Set a time that works given your situation. Maybe an hour a week for the next month.
- Protect the time. A multitude of demands will taunt and tempt you to give up the time. Outside of an emergency, learn to say “No”!
- Slow down when you are in the time. Turn off your phone, computer and other media. For many this is not easy.
- Ask God to meet you and help. He is in the business of transforming you and me.
- Record what you are musing about as you reflect on the questions.
- Identify themes are you hearing? What are you sensing God asking of you as you work through the questions?
- Identify potential steps you may need to take to grow this year?
- Get help. Decide to not do it alone. Who can you ask for support as you enter into the journey of learning and growing in Christ this next year?
