New Year resolutions?

Happy New Year – I normally start the year with some sort of aim but after 2020?

Actually most of us just need commending for navigating the past year. In January I was still in the steep learning curve for my new role with Latin Link; looking forward to feeling that I’d got to grips with the job and all that. Well, twelve months later I’m still trying to get to grips with it. But the truth is we made it through the year; and if you are reading this then so did you. So congratulations, let’s just take that as a win.

Looking ahead I’m hoping for a couple of things though:

• Some people seem to achieve lots in lockdown. I’m not one of them. I get to the end of the working (zoom) day exhausted. But I’m really hoping that I might create some more space for theological thinking / reading / writing.
• One thing I miss about being a minister in a local church is the regular discipline of preaching. Lockdown reduces the opportunities for this (especially in person) but I’m hoping that as the year unfolds there will be more preaching & teaching opportunities.
• Since we returned from Peru my Spanish has deteriorated a lot; and it wasn’t great before. One of my resolutions for the year ahead is to make time each week to focus on this.
• I’ve missed being able to travel, not just to Latin America but also simply for holidays. While the virus situation in the UK is likely to be much worse over the next three months, it should start to improve by Easter so there’s a chance that we can get out and about over the summer.

But truthfully, in a pandemic / disaster situation the best you can do is not worry too much about the future, but to navigate the challenges of living one day at a time. Adapt to changing circumstances, do the best you can to be kind and take the initiative in trying to make the world a better place.

As Jesus said:

Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34

Feliz Año Nuevo

Image: creationswap Joe Cavasos