Friday, December 20, 2013

The Most Important Resolution

If you’ve ever seen the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, you know the opening scene. Powerfully, it shows an elderly man being followed by his wife, adult children and grandchildren. They are in Normandy, France and make their way into the cemetery known as The Normandy American Cemetery. Here, James Ryan pays respect to the man who both saved his life during World War II and challenged him to live it effectively: Captain John Miller. As the story line goes, Ryan was dropped behind enemy lines prior to the D-Day invasion. One of four sons, the other three have been killed. General George C. Marshall, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has ordered Private James Ryan saved – and a military team led by Miller is sent to find him and send him home. In the process of finding and saving Private Ryan, Miller is shot and slowly bleeds to death. His last words to Ryan are “James. Earn this…earn it.” At the cemetery, the now senior Ryan concludes his visit to Miller’s grave by turning to his wife and imploring, “Tell me I have lived a good life.” She is bewildered, and then Ryan says, “Tell me I have been a good person.” An elderly man asking the question, “Am I a good person? Have I lived a good life?” captures the goal most seek. For most thinking and caring people life boils down to this simple request, “Tell me I’ve lived a good life. Tell me I am a good person.” The New Year is a time for resolutions - resolutions that we believe will help us live a good life and be a good person. Resolutions are those changes in attitude and behavior that make us stronger and better: a good person, living a good life. In the spirit of the New Year then, I offer some resolution suggestions. They are based on Biblical teaching and I think that any of us, incorporating them into our lives, will be good and live a good life. • Be honest, trustworthy and respectful in your dealings with others. These traits are foundational to any successful endeavor. • Be able to look at yourself in the mirror each morning as you are brushing your teeth and be proud of the way you treated others the previous day. • Choose your friends wisely. They will dictate your future to a great degree – “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” • Do the right thing. If you do the right thing long enough, eventually others will notice. • Enjoy the journey. By the time you arrive at the place you want to be, the journey will be over. • Avoid people who don’t like nature or animals. • View obstacles as opportunities because with God’s help, nothing is too difficult to overcome. And finally, I want to add one more suggestion. I saved the best for last. This one is the most important of all, for if you will incorporate it into your mind and lifestyle, it will definitely change you. Listen to this instruction from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So, here is the last suggested resolution for the New Year: • Be thankful for what you do have, rather than complain about what you don’t have. As we go through life and especially when we enter the senior years, the realization hits us that the meaning of life is to live a life of meaning. Living with the attitude of gratitude is… The most important resolution of all! Happy New Year everyone!

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