How can your spiritual life be enhanced by billboard advertising tequila? Patron tequila wins the holiday billboard sign with this message: “It’s better to give than to receive….in theory”.
I smiled thinking many things sound good in theory, look good on paper, but sometimes don’t live up to expectations. New year’s resolutions being one of those.
After the pressure of “family holidays”, now our culture dumps a burden on us to “better ourselves” with resolve. Pay attention to what you read, what people talk about setting the high stakes of expectation. We are bombarded with the idea of the “perfect family”, “man of my dreams”, the gifted child, or the ideal woman.
We all want to improve but what if we don’t lose those 10 pounds or miss the mark of that daily exercise routine?
In reality, false expectations can get us in big trouble. Looking for the “ideal” can break our hearts and kill our hope. Not to mention the pangs of guilt.
We all have had the feeling of dashed hope and shattered expectations. No matter what area of life we look at, we all have the experience of having reality fall short of certain expectations. Sometimes they fall short that we may feel abandoned or betrayed. We may call out, “God, where are you?”
God never promised to keep us out of pain or adversity. But we know that Spirit has a “plan” and will see us through our doubt. So as we make our way into this new year, let’s reflect on the “resolution” to never lose faith, knowing that all is going as intended. Let’s give thanks for the richness and splendor of our lives, rejoicing that God will carry us through this year with Divine Guidance.
Remember this tip: You are Divinely guided, guarded, and gifted.
Happy New Year!
