I do what is called a New Year’s Theme. It is similar to a resolution — but with a twist. They started out as something some girlfriends and I did 4 years ago (this year will be the 5th time). We decided to stop making resolutions, but instead, themes for the year. A theme for God to teach us through instead of a resolution.<\/p>\n
My theme for 2008 was “Better Days.” 2006 and 2007 threw at me some of the hardest events of my life. Brandon dying. Friends moving. My church’s leadership train-wreck. My mentor walking out of my life. Watching what I knew as normal completely crumble before my eyes. Better Days was all about the hope and trust that God was still on the throne and Better Days were ahead. Which they were. Thankfully.<\/p>\n
My theme for 2009 is “Just Keep Swimming.” While 2008 was a much better year in comparison to the past… my attitude continues to fail me just about every day. “Just Keep Swimming” comes from the movie Finding Nemo, but if you think about it — it is such a great theme for living life. In the context of the story, Dori is trying to cheer Marlin up when he feels hopeless and is ready to just give up. Too often, I find myself with that same hopeless and bitter attitude when life throws me for a loop… even in the most trivial of situations.<\/p>\n
Dori goes on to ask Marlin, “when life gets you down, do you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming…”<\/p>\n
While I can’t control my circumstances — I can control my reactions to them. I can control how well I guard my heart. And I can either sink and play the victim … or take a tip from Dori and just keep swimming and have victory. There’s more to come about all this — but this post will suffice for today.<\/p>\n