In just a few hours, 2009 will be in the past and, as I do at every year's end, I find myself pondering the possibilities inherent in a brand new year. I also like to think back on the lessons I learned in the year ending.
I'm not much for making New Year's resolutions. I think resolutions ought to be made and their achievement attempted as we go through our everyday lives. My faith teaches that I am to constantly "press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus," in other words to make everything I do and say edify God in some way just as Christ did.
I'm not called to do this on January 1, but every day. And just as most people's resolutions begin to wane a few months into the new year as their old habits and the vagaries of life muddy up things, so do I struggle to make my daily words and deeds worthy of presentation to God.
It's hard, and I often fail. The difference, though, is that every minute becomes a fresh opportunity to right my wrong, fix what I broke, or seek forgiveness for a misdeed. A perpetual work in progress, to be sure.
Looking back into 2009, I offer up the things I learned -- in no particular order -- in the hope they might save someone else from having to learn similar lessons the hard, firsthand way:
Having a child in the hospital is worse than just about anything else, except maybe having a child off fighting in a war.
Homeschooling is still better than anything public or paid private education can offer.
A whole year of not watching TV has made ME smarter. (My kids have never watched.)
Growing older is not bad as long as you don't grow dumber. I don't fight the former, but I do the latter.
Anytime a politician makes a promise he or she will only be able to keep a precious fraction of it.
Atheists think those who believe in God are irrational. I think it's the other way around.
You really can overcome your fear of public speaking if you have something you passionately want to impart to others.
When it comes to old friends, you are fortunate to get a second chance at knowing them.
Suicide is still a bad idea.
It's true that children should be seen, but I think it's also important that they be heard.
One child is a blessing. Four children are more than I deserve. I am humbled.
Boys should always be different than girls and we'd do well as a culture to nurture that fact.
Every single day I wake up with the physical wherewithal to do the things that need doing is a gift of immeasurable value.
Our parents and grandparents learned to do more with less. My generation has managed to do the opposite and it pains me beyond words.
Faith without works is dead. But so are works without faith.
Income redistribution never solved anything.
No matter how much I don't have, I still have more than I need.
And finally, my all-time favorite saying still holds true: "He who hesitates is lost."
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