New Year's (and life) resolution

My, what a year it has been. Who would have thought that 365 days ago I would be where I am today. As the new year comes in like a rolling tide I am reminded that instead of running away in fear to stand, take a gander at the breathtaking view and allow the shore to rise up and meet me. 

My professor in college told me that I must have been born too early because it seems like I’m always rushing things. Even though I actually was born two weeks early - hey, I’m a twin - that’s no grounds for me to rush the rest of my life. It wasn’t until recently that I began to look at the past year with my professor’s words echoing in my head did I finally realize my so-called New Year’s resolution: Just breathe (I say “so-called” because I’m not one to believe in New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions should occur more than once a year and last more than a mere 31 days). 

2013 was one of the craziest years of my life. I started off in Nigeria, then flew to America for a few weeks to pack before I moved here, Australia! Hands down, moving to Australia was the biggest transition of my adult life. The choice to do so was faced with a lot of anxiety and apprehension. Instead of allowing all that was happening to me to just happen, I found myself rushing through it all just to get it over with. I was afraid that if I stayed in the moment long enough it wouldn’t turn out the way I wanted it, or it would go the way I wanted but it would end too soon (As much as we all love Marilyn Monroe, can I just say that her “leave before you get left” quote is the worst piece of advice you can receive). Fortunately for me  I’ve learned that if things leave they come back just like the water on the shore and  even if they don’t so what? At least you were blessed enough to fully enjoy the moment.

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It took me the greater half of the year to come to grips with the term, just breathe. But I finally did. With that said, I fell more in love with the people around me, more in love with my true self, and most of all, more in love with Jesus Christ. Without Him, the former two would have been an impossible feat. I cannot say that I regret the majority of last year because the past is the past, I cannot change it - no one can. This new year and every year after that I will do my best to just breathe and …

listen to Him.

have a deep convo or a meaningless one for that matter.

stop peeping at the clock and focus on the matter at hand.

enjoy the company I keep or the company that keeps me.

be interested.

sit in silence.

pray.

do whatever I want but just relish in the moment.

Life is crazy. Learn to deal.

With November now officially in full swing I now can look back at the quick blur that was October. It brings to mind all of  the things that happened that month. Although no event in particular was anything for the history books even so, it was a “busy” month. Longs weeks filled with packing our house into boxes, preparing for finals, birthdays, working on projects, catching up with friends, organizing events for church - a basic jambalaya of sorts.

Although, it wasn’t all bad though, in the cray of it all I learned this: 

Life is crazy. It always has been and it always will be. Learn to deal. 

It took me quite a bit of time to realize there is no reason to miss the days when Saturday morning cartoons and nap time were our way of life when we can have that today. Well, not necessarily but at least we can have something similar. 

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Whether you are 5, 10, 24, or 59+ all that is needed is a bit of grace and patience. Grace in the sense that we must know it is possible to do anything with God - small or grand. 

And patience to deal with the changes that come your way. In order to have a different life away from stress and fuss you’re gonna have to do things differently - a godly type of different.  Some days you’re going to think that your way is best and want to continue on that path but don’t. Stop and let God direct your steps no matter how crazy they seem. 

Which, if you ask me is the greatest news I’ve heard in a while. We don’t have to think for ourselves, that burden is now up to Him. 

So, while October flew in with a bevy of overwhelming plans, God reminded me that the same peace He gave me as a child is the same peace I can have now if I only believe in Him. Just because my circumstances and settings have now changed does not mean God has done the same.  

Think of it this way, the “little” amount of faith it takes you to trust in God to deliver the sun the next day is the same amount of faith it should take to trust in Him for deliverance of your student loans, the baby your hoping for, the job position you’ve been eying for the last few months. 

So stop stressing.  Stop making plans to do this on your own. Stop thinking that because you didn’t get what you want you never will. Stop fussing over the things God has already covered. Just stop. 

Life is crazy. It always had been and it always will be. The only way we can deal is to let God.