How do you enter a pool? Do you cannonball in, making the biggest splash you possibly can? Or do you walk down the steps, ease yourself in, hop around the cool water until your body adjusts to the temperature? I’m the latter. At least when it comes to everyday things, I like to ease into it. I like to take my time to adjust.
I’m treating this new year as an everyday thing. I’m easing into it. I didn’t set any resolutions. I didn’t pick a one word. I didn’t intentionally buy a planner for myself…I happened to buy it for a White Elephant game but found a more fun option so I kept it. Truth is, I entered this new year with trepidation because I know a path God wants me to take, but I confused knowing His plans with knowing His timeline. That’s a tough place to be in.
Knowing God’s plans is not necessarily the same as knowing His timeline. The Israelites knew they were going to enter the Promise Land, but they first wandered the desert for 40 years. I bet they didn’t see that coming.
I’m that student who volunteers to present first or second because I like to get the big things over it. When I decide to go somewhere, I don’t like to drag out the planning. When I’m hungry, I go find some place to eat instead of Yelp-ing a place to eat. When it comes to big things (and yes, food is a BIG thing), I like to go for it or get it over with.
I now find myself in a holding pattern, being patient in what I know is inevitable. It’s a balancing act. I like to ease into everyday things, but I like to get the big things over with. So when God asks for a big thing and then says hold, it’s tough.
And that’s what I’m finding 2017 to be at the moment, a practice in patience or trust or being present.
In 2016, this happened:
I read these books:
Brazen by Leeana Tankersley
Harry Moon by Mark Andrew Poe
Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Wholly Kids by LifeWay Kids
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Extravagant Worship by Darlene Zschech
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (twice)
Gaps in Stone Walls by John Neufeld
12 books in 12 months is pretty good. I also started to read a bunch of other books that I didn’t finish. So in addition to reading those books (most of them are for an online course), I’m participating in the “Reading For Fun” category of the 2017 Reading Challenge by Modern Mrs. Darcy. I am genuinely excited because I stopped reading for a while, and now I see that I’m capable of reading at least one book a month. Perhaps, I can read more.
In 2017, I’m also looking forward to traveling. I’m heading to Nashville for a graduation/conference/vacay. Let me know of must-visit places and restaurants!
And that’s it. I don’t want to add so much to this year. I just want to take things as they come. What about you? How are you approaching 2017?
