New Year Resolutions

Huh? So do I need one, eh?

I quit making one years ago when I realized that I never stick to them for more than a couple of days. I didn't even think of them when I was staring with envy at the glimpse of fireworks around the uni through my flat window. It came to my mind when someone at the church talked about it today.

Think of something, big or small, just something. It can be something about the world, the country, the people, the war. It can be something smaller, related to someone or something in particular. Just think of something that you would like to be different: to happen or not to happen again. Think how you can make a difference on making it happen or not happen again. Think how God could have make a difference in that situation. Think how our prayers and acts could have make a difference.

And I could think of nothing. Nothing at all. Oh, how miserable I am. Yes, that what I will call misery. The state where I cannot think of others, cannot care more for others, cannot pray for others, cannot love others. The state when I believe that life, that the world, is all about me, about my life, my work, my future, my friends, my happiness, my other super important things. What a shame, coming from me who will never hesitate and has never hesitated to confess how lucky I am to be loved the way I am loved, how lucky I am to be blessed, to be saved, to be what I am.

So that will be my new year resolution. I will learn to love others. I will learn to love unconditionally. I know it will be a lifetime learning. But I am learning from the best, the One who has loved me and will always love unconditionally. And at least now I will start learning. I will pick one name everyday and pray for that person. I will pick one name everyday and think of something that will make that person better off. I will pick one name everyday and think how the love of God will  make that person better off. I will pick one name everyday and think of how I can make a difference. And perhaps, someday, I will pick one name and start doing something for that person.

Someone in the past has picked my name and prayed for me. Someone in the past has thought of me and thought how my life can be better off. Someone in the past has done something good to me. Someone in the past has shown me that I was worthy of unconditional love. Let me be that "someone" to someone else everyday. Amen.