Do One New Thing in the Next Year

What does your New Year look like?

Last year, I decided to try to do at least one new thing, so I quickly jotted down 4 or 5 things that sounded interesting. Actually, when you think about it, how often do we just keep doing the same old things? Sure, we may go to a different place on vacation or something, but generally we do the same job, maintain our relationships and amuse ourselves in a "tried and true" fashion - humans have a hard time changing!

Now ideally when you write down a new thought, it's best to keep that list in an often seen location to ensure you'll be reminded. However, I quickly got distracted as I not only kept doing my job but in fact I had set some new goals for myself, primarily around my counseling practice. I started conducting regular workshops, recording CD's and started this blog.

In addition to a time of personal change, a new pastor came to our church, bringing exciting growth that we quickly embraced. In the fall, our new Fine Arts pastor announced he was starting acting classes. I was intrigued by this -- who would have ever thought you could go to acting classes at a church? (Not from my background anyway) His plans to use plays, musicals and even a movie for outreach sounded like something I wanted to check out, so I signed up.

Two days later, I was reorganizing material on my desk when I ran across my "try a new thing" list. Amazingly to me, "acting" was number two on the list! I had no recollection of writing that and immediately felt so grateful and overwhelmed that I began to weep. Did God really care enough about me that he orchestrated many changes around me to meet a stated, albeit forgotten, desire of my heart? Yes, He did. I knew it then; I know it now. Of course, I wasn't the only person who benefitted from these changes, but I was certainly included! I also know He'll do the same for you; remember, "ask and you shall receive." Maybe there's a little "new thing" you want to check out; perhaps there's a major new direction you want to follow. Write it down; see what happens.

When I wrote last month about "grow or decay," it's important to remember that growing doesn't have to be huge -- in fact, sometimes that can become overwhelming and we never start. A little change often begins an avalanche of movement, and we're the better for it. I challenge you to take a few minutes now and quickly write a few things you might want to try. Who knows? Maybe 3, 6 or 9 months later you'll run across that list and discover a desire of your heart has come to pass.