Weekly Evotional

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New Year to each of you and I hope that your Christmas season was filled with the presence of the Spirit.

Traditionally, this is the month that we finish returning Christimas gifts after the crowds have died down, spend our gift cards and contemplate our New Years’ resolutions. Fitness centers prepare for the onslaught of new memberships and book sales on the latest diet trends soar. After all of the rich food of the season, I often plan my new and improved regime as well.

However, as the fitness centers will attest, there will be a predictable drop-off of participants as the months march forward – even though our intentions are always so good.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the 12-step method (A.A., Alanon or Spiritual) of creating a self-improvement plan. This method asks that we identify our character defects and then be willing to have God remove them.  This particular method can be a little more painful as times, but in the long run, God is the one that heals our flaws.

Here’s an example – and believe me – the list is long. Just “off the top of my head”, I would love to be better in touch with friends and family that aren’t in my immediate sphere of activities – the ones that we remember at Christmas. If I made this a resolution, I’m afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own, quite possibly because there may be deeper issues (or character defects) involved. For instance: Perhaps I think that I constantly need to be doing to earn God’s love and there isn’t time for any more contact with old friends or perhaps I have old abandonment issues that keep a safe wall up around me. This character defect will require prayer, reflection and journaling to discover the block that keeps me separated from many old friends. As I have mentioned to some of you, my dear aunt and godmother, died in November at age 97. When she received Christmas cards from other parts of the country from long-time friends, she wrote long letters in response. She also cherished the family and all of its members. My generation has moved to the oldest category in our family. I know that I need God’s help to carry on for the family giants that have come before – and I think that it will, most likely, involve some deep work on my part, God’s grace and coming to the realization that “being” comes before “doing”.

I’d love to know of your struggles. We can pray for each other.

In Christ,

Mary Anderson