Friday 1 January 2016

Launch out into the deep



Cheers to the weekend! It's a Friday. The Friday that ended 365 days and got us started again at 1. Day 1. Blank leaf. Blank Page. Blank Book. Beginning. Enough with the new year's cliches right?

I have seen a push back this year on the 'resolutions'. People instead coining the newest 'catch words' ...solutions and revolutions. Whatever you want to call it, however you want to frame it - a new year brings hope, and possibilities for change, lasting change. And change...change can be a very scary thing.

Change cause you to do a few things...reflect, review, revisit, in short - look back. As we look back on the year past, just mere hours ago, it is tempting to revel in any successes we might have had or revert to old habits because of apparent failures; for we are but humans, and life events can cause us to praise or blame - self.

One event happened that caused me to look back on a lifetime of scars and the enemy said 'stay there'

Change can cause you to have apprehension, fear, uncertainty, and in short cause you to become paralyzed. 'Stay there.' For people who had a great 2015, a new year isn't so scary, because they welcome opportunities to have an even better year. For the rest of us whose year was characterized by disappointment, uncertainty, pain and even growth, we are - fearful. Questions flood in, fools rush in and we think of a new year with trepidation; one day at a time becomes 366 days that unravel like dried up roses from a bouquet. We try nothing, we do nothing, we dare not rock the boat, less it topples over. We 'stay there'  and finish out the year - hopefully.

Change can cause you to make a plan, resolutions, revolutions, solutions, in short change can cause - action. Last year, I had a plan, I got a board, I decorated it, I titled it my 'Vision Board', it was to have my visions clearly stated in print and pictures. I was to accomplish them all by the end of 2015. Thing is....it was my plan and as luck would have it - I never put a single 'vision' on it. I meant it to look absolutely perfect- so I was waiting to find the perfect pictures, and I wanted to cut out letters to make the words- I thought it would look artsy. Perfectionism and procrastination got the better of the 'Vision Board.' At year's end - I wasn't sorry. In January when I designed it in my mind, most of what took place in the year wasn't on it - including this blog. Man's best laid plans, often go awry- thank heavens for that!

Change can cause you to change. Do a total 360! It's a new year, change is good, so therefore I must change. Change my hair, change my style, change my outlook, change my mind about being kind.


Looking back isn't bad, getting stuck in your past is. I think it's healthy to look back, to see how far you have come. It can help us to see God's hand connecting the dots of our haphazardly ordered life. Looking back can make us grateful for God's grace and his mercy. Look back but for a moment.


Feel the fear, feel that heavy, sinking feeling in the pit of your chest. Breathe slowly. Repeat. Isn't it unfair that we can't see or predict even what's around the bend? It makes you feel so helpless, but yet in a way, it's the best thing that could ever happen to us! During all the Christmas messages, Isaiah 9:6-7 was on repeat ......and the government shall be upon his shoulders.... spoke to me- and I thought - "well that's a heavy load; that is a burden I would not want to carry." In Jamaica, we sometimes describe a person who looks sad or distressed like this:-  'dem a ack like the whirl deh pon dem shoulda' transalation - they are acting like the world is on their shoulder.
If I knew everything that would happen in my life, the good, the bad and the ugly, I know I'd be running around like a chicken without a head, trying to out a fire here, or to extend a happy moment or to prevent any sadness anywhere, that I would soon be so burdened and be fearful and paralyzed, having my world upon my shoulders. A scary thought! Feel the fear?....You don't have to!


Plan! Nehemiah had a plan. I. am. not the best planner. Last year I'm sure I said, I'm not a planner at all- but I'm getting there- slowly- but surely. It is always good to have a plan, God is a planner and if I am to be more like him, I also need to have a systematic way of achieving my goals but - my plans need to not just be systematic but in sync. In sync with God's purpose for my life. For I do not have time to be like mouse and men!

Change just to change? That reminds me of me, when I'm going out! I know I am not the only one to start off with an outfit, try on three others, only to return to the original outfit. Find your purpose - stick to it! Different outfits might change your mood but it certainly doesn't change the heart of you, the core of you- the purpose in you.

Change should cause you to surrender. Fullstop.
Change. lasting change, that causes renewal, revitalization; that change that makes ALL things new. That change - it never, ever says "stay there." Stay at a place that scarred you. Stay at a place that causes you pain. Stay at a place and be afraid. Stay at a place and never grow. Stay at place and keep changing things that don't matter. Stay here.

Instead - lasting change says - Go - Luke 5: 4.. Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Lasting change asks you to take a deep breath, feel the fear but TRUST God's plan, surrender and GO.



Our response is usually -
"No"
"I don't know how"
"I'm afraid"
"I prefer to stay here"
"I'm not sure if it's you Lord"
"This is not my plan"
"I have been doing it this way though"
"I can't"

And then 365 days go by and we look back and wonder where the year went. We look back, many of us pleased at the direction our year took- our goals were met, our lives unfolded just the way we planned. Others, will look back with disappointed eyes and be glad 365 + 1 are in the bag, so they get to start a fresh! Start a change.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.


Master we have toiled all night and have taken nothing - Lord, I have done it my way all this time, and really have gained nothing at all; everything that I have tried to the best of my own knowledge, skills and plans have amounted to nothing I can use to make a living from. Nevertheless - surrender!
at thy word- with your guidance, grace, mercy, PLAN, I will let down my net- I will Go out and do what I have been doing, with the same tools I used before, but not with my own knowledge, skill, strength or PLAN but yours oh Lord and I will see what happens!

6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake.


And that is how, I suspect, you drink from your saucer, for your cup has overflowed.

Happy New Year - 2016


7 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this. Lovely.


    Happy new year to you too.

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    1. thank you Esther for stopping by and I am glad you were blessed by it. I pray you have a purposeful new year and launch out into the deep!

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  2. Happy new year Tanya I wish for you and your family many blessing happiness and many adventures

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    1. Thanks Kerona and all the best to you and your blog for 2016! Increase your territory

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    2. Your welcome and thank you too

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  3. Happy New Year Friend. May your days be blessed and purposeful. Thank you for sharing with us at Sitting Among Friends.

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    1. Thanks Jaime, I am happy to share with you and our friends. I like your launch and look forward to all the parties you will host

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