Fresh Vision for 2025

I've always loved Jonathan Edwards' resolutions:

I will live for God. Even if no one else does, I still will.

Wow, talk about powerful and clear!  It's great to have New Year's resolutions, but it's even better to transform those resolutions into a singular vision for the year.

In Proverbs 29:18, we are told that where there is no vision, the people perish.  Having a vision can be a life or death thing!

I have a personal phrase I've adopted for this New Year that I want to share with you now: Fully Alive in 2025!  I want to be alert, proactive, positive, in the moment (not daydreaming somewhere else), ready to Yes, And in 2025.

I've written down my vision statement inside my trusty Moleskin to help myself stay accountable.  This is biblical; Habakkuk 2:2 says to write down the vision in plain language.

Every good vision requires sacrifice.  

To fulfill my unique vision of the future, I have to make some sacrifices:

• Scripture before Screens

• Meditation before Media

• Prayer before Posts

By painting a picture of who I want to be in 2025, I am setting myself up for success in all areas of my life: personal, professional, etc.

Having a vision of the future is powerful; it's like painting a picture ala Bob Ross, complete with happy little trees and happy little mistakes along the way.

I want you to take some time today if you haven't already to develop a short, simple vision statement for your 2025.  It doesn't have to rhyme or be overly-clever.  But it does have to be written down somewhere that you will see it.

Create your vision statement and then begin re-ordering your daily routines around your vision.  See how God can transform your New Year in new ways!

On Pain and Loss

This past week marked one year since my Mother suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. 

It is a weird anniversary to mark as it brings up memories and emotions that usually remain bottled up, untouched by daily life.  I think my sister put it best:

"One of the strangest things about loss, especially sudden loss, is that while your world is crashing down around you, the rest of the world keeps on moving. Today somehow marks 1 year without Mom. It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been an entire year without one of the most important people in my life. I try to not dwell on regrets, but not hugging her when I had the opportunity, not knowing that just one hour later she’d be cruelly and tragically taken from us, is the hardest for me to reconcile. I still struggle with the unfairness and trauma of it all, but I try to remember that I’m still here and there are people that need me. Mom is at peace, and one day I will get to give her that hug I so desperately wish for."

When she passed, I put together a little video that played at the opening of her Celebration of Life.  For what it's worth, here's the video: