This weekend begins a new year and with that countless resolutions will be made addressing the things in our lives we know we should change, wish we could, or think we should. Losing weight likely takes the top honors for both made and quickly broken resolutions. Followed by a bunch of related commitments to eat healthy and exercise more. Some get detailed like no soda, cokes, soft drinks, I list the category this way as I am told my blogging should not be so southern but more diverse in its language and word choices. So maybe there is a resolution to consider, make my blog more inclusive.
I have wrestled with resolutions, many years making and breaking them sometimes in hours; not after months, weeks, or even days of temptation or struggle. My resolutions not so resolute, falling into that category of wishes without personal actions. I wished to lose weight, I wished to demonstrate my love toward my family, I wished to do a better job in my work, I wished for the good things I felt were lacking in my personality, my physique, my philosophy. Only finding 12 months later there was no change and I wished for the same thing another year. Call my family more, write more, read more, my list is very long of things I wish I would do, but don’t.
There have only been a few resolutions I was able to accomplish, that became a part of me, that were true changes. I have run a few marathons, finally lost some weight, and at least buy more books than a few short years ago. While my handwriting is very sloppy and my signature was unreadable, a few years ago I resolved I would improve my signature so that customers could read my name on checks and contracts. I write thousands of these every year. My signature is still a difficult read most days, but its readable at least partially and while overcoming 60 years of muscle memory is difficult I do think about my signature when I make it, I am aware of when it is readable and when it is not. That is a long way from years ago when my signature was dismissively placed on a document. Yes, I still need improvement if I expect my signature to be readable so my 2 year old resolution is still a work, I am resolute in this area.
This year as we prepare for the end of 2016 and the beginning of a new year I was signing all the checks due Jan 2. Several hundred in one sitting. I noted how careless I became as the stack dwindled. The first check I could honestly read “David g”. Yes, lower case g. Later checks had a prominent D then some scribbles. The last check was that an O, D or Q? Old habits had returned. I took a deep breath, aware of my error and inadequacy. A perfect example of how we fall into old errors if we don’t focus on our weaknesses, if we are not purposeful in our actions.
I looked back through the checks, resolved again to keep improving my hand writing as I take it as a sign of weakness now, and added one more resolution. I prayed for each customer represented by the 100’s of checks not as a group but flipping through each check reading each name, privately. I resolved that with each document that receives my signature this new year I will pray for the individual that document is intended to reach. Pray for the waitress as I calculate a tip and sign the receipt, pray for the customer receiving the check, pray for my counter party in contracts I execute, by name.
That’s a resolution that could impact a community. Us Christians pray for our members, we pray for those we know, we pray for the sick, we are taught to pray for our enemies and we accept that challenge.. I ask myself and you today, what would our businesses look like if we prayed for the customers that walked through our doors? What would our classrooms look like if as papers were graded each student was in someone’s prayer? How would that change our actions? What would a bakery look like where every customer that walked through the door was prayed for unknowingly and privately. Would we fight to preserve our rights not serve some? While God can change people I have found in praying for others it is often that I change. Would praying for those customers settle all debate about who we should serve, who is using our restrooms? I think so but even if it didn’t if we really believe prayer can heal the sick, restore our enemy, change lives shouldn’t we want the same blessing on everyone we encounter? It has dawned on me this week that I am as careless with my signature as I am with the daily personal encounters of my life, today that ends.
For 2017 I resolve to pray for every person that receives a document from me with my signature. That pleasant customer, that one that makes me feel uncomfortable, and the one that often trades with my competitor. I will pray for the observant waitress, and the poor one, the hotel night clerk, and if required the police officer that hands me that well deserved citation. God knows this resolution will be easier than improving my handwriting but I have not given up on that either. I am resolute.
David (yes, you the reader were prayed for)
