Our Stories
Old Years' Reminder
By Aaron Soderlund | posted 01/10/2008
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)
It would be awfully cliché of me to write something about new beginnings, or resolutions just because the new year started last week, wouldn't it? That's what I thought, at least. So let me tell you about the old things that God is teaching me... again.
If you don't know me, I'm the kind of person that would rather clean up one big mess every once in a while, than have to clean up a little as I go. Growing up I would stay up late too many nights in a row until my body shut down. I'd feel terrible, get headaches, get sick, miss school (not exactly a bad thing), and I would sleep for a long time and then I'd be fine in the morning. Homework in college was the same way. I would rather not do my homework each day, and just do it all at once right before the assignments were all due. Why? Because a little bit of no fun every day, to me, is much worse than only one full day of no fun.
In those instances, it really wasn't that big of a deal. But I have the same habits in most of my life. For example, I'm not exactly the skinniest guy in the room. If you've been around Creekside for a while you may remember when Beth and I did Weight Watchers. I lost 55 pounds in half a year and felt like a completely different person. Well, the job was done, so I slowly went back to old habits. Now that weight is creeping back up on me and I'm realizing that I'm going to need to have one of those 'power through it' times again soon.
That's all well and good, I guess, but it's not exactly the healthiest way to live. Sure I may drop the weight again, but is it going to make a difference if I lose it and then go back to normal? This may sound like a plug for Biggest Loser (NBC on Tuesdays at 8pm/7pm Central - hehe), but it's not, I promise. What I'm getting at is the idea that somewhere in my life, I've developed this mentality that it is not worth the effort to make something a habit. Or that it's not worth the work involved to be disciplined. And that I can't be disciplined enough to do the every day stuff. Ultimately, it's not a healthy way to live, whether it's the weight, the homework, the dishes, the rabbit cage or the back seat of my car. Consistency is the key to success in anything. For example, the Cougars are consistently beating the Huskies in football and basketball.
One of my favorite verses is "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7). Because of this verse, I know that if I ask Him for help with it, I can do all of these things. I can keep my car clean for more than two days. I can get the sleep I need. I don't need to do my homework anymore - thank goodness. I can get back to the weight I was 2 years ago and keep it there. I can read my Bible every day. I can talk with God every day. And I can be healthier tomorrow than today every day - spiritually, physically, and mentally. I know this because He created me in His own image. And God is not timid.
So, as I promised, I won't be cliché and give you a New Year's Resolution article. I'm just telling you my Old Years' Reminder that I feel God giving me... again. I can be disciplined in all aspects of my life.
To respond to this message, email Aaron at aaron@windermere.com.
