I think that it is important to have a theme for the year. This is a new development in my thinking, mind you, but an important one nonetheless. So for the year 2007 in the world of Liz the theme is "Pay Attention!" And I was given a visual picture of this today that I would like to share.
I was out walking this afternoon in the balmy weather that has so unusually graced Minnesota this winter. We got a little bit of snow on New Years Eve that has, for the most part, melted. So roads and sidewalks are clear. I was walking along - not really paying any attention to where or what I was walking on - head up, eyes ahead - pretty mindless. Then all of a sudden I turned the corner and almost fell flat on my face. I had turned onto a sidewalk that doesn't get the direct sunlight on it - so it was all snow and ice. It was quite a stretch of sidewalk - and I had to keep my head down, eyes focused on where I was walking. I had to pay very close attention to each step I made otherwise I was going to fall. I eventually got off the sidewalk and went onto the road next to it so that I didn't have to stumble so much. But got to thinking...
This is how life is. For a lot of it, we can just mindlessly walk along - head up and eyes focused forward. I think sometimes it becomes almost like we are on autopilot. But then there are the times on the journey where the path gets a little trecherous and we have to pay a little more attention - if not extremely close attention - lest we fall. Sometimes there are choices to make - do I get off the unsure path and move over to the other path where I can walk steady?
For quite a long time now I have been on autopilot. I have been taking life as it has been thrown at me - not really paying close attention to where I am going - just trying to survive. But the tide is changing. I truly believe that I am at a crossroads where I could choose the path where I mindlessly go on walking to wherever that may lead me. OR I could choose the path that is a bit more unsure and has a lot more obsticles on it. For me, right now, the easy path is not really an option. I am too determined not to stay where I am at - which means that I need to walk somewhere else. So that leaves me facing the other direction - uncharted territory. There is a great visual of this in a Mary Engelbreit drawing - the picture is of a road sign at a crossroads that says "Your Life" pointing in one direction and "No Longer an Option" pointing in the other direction. I choose heading toward my life - leaving the other behind.
SO - what does all of this have to do with paying attention? The path that I have just ventured out on is one where I have to pay very close attention to the steps I am taking along the way. B/c if I don't - I am going to fall flat on my face and end up right back where I was. And I am not going to let that happen. So paying attention for me means that this will be a year of discipline and intentionality. From God's standpoint - Him pruning and refining me and me paying attention to how He is doing that in my life. From my standpoint - working on self-discipline in every area and paying attention to how I choose to live this life God has given to me. To make wise choices that lead me in the right direction - not choices based only on what I want. Intentionally involving God in my everyday life and letting Him lead and guide - and paying attention to what He is saying. Listening - and obeying.
It is going to be a hard year - but one of growth. I admit that I am a bit anxious about it. But more than anything I am excited! So here's to a new year with so many possibilities in it! Time to wake up and pay attention!!!
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