This time of the year I usually find myself the odd ball out, I hate new years resolutions and I normally avoid them at all costs. A few years back I took the stance of trashing the resolutions. While lists are written down and taped to mirrors, or promises and gym memberships are renewed I vowed to say nothing. It was my stand against believing in "new year, new me" and allowing myself grace in being new each day. I've started to bend to that stand a little, just a little though! My one and only resolution this year is to be inconvenienced.
Yes, weird, I know. But this is my one and only resolution, I want to be more inconvenienced.
My boyfriend is a pro at this, I admire his willingness to be inconvenienced. i.e. He runs into my dad's house one afternoon and asks for the jumper cables, to run right back out the door, only to look out the window and see him down the street helping a lady start her car. A friend calls if he's free for some help, he literally drops what he's doing and goes off. His lovely girlfriend is sick and he spends what he has left to make homemade soup. I mean common, king of inconvenience.
I, on the other hand, HATE to be inconvenienced. If I have a plan I am dead set on sticking to it. I don't like taking longer than expected or going earlier than planned. I hate to be stopped in the middle of something or called with last minute changes. i.e. I'm on my way to school and my dad asks me to run an errand for him, I cringe, then groan, and exasperate loudly. Because it's not in my plan, it doesn't benefit me, it sets my whole day off. I panic in the midst of change, my whole body repels it.
But Christ is snapping me out of that and laid it out simply on my heart.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ {Matthew 25:37-40}
My God has called me to be inconvenienced, to stop. If I am looking to honor Him, and follow Him than I am looking to always be on my feet for the needs of others. To Purposely place His eyes over mine and find stoppable moments, stoppable people, stoppable Gospel conversations. To stop for the lady who needs her car jumped, help the guy carrying tons into his office, stop and give a dollar to someone on the side of the road, buy dinner for a friend in need, talk to the person who asks for a minute. To stop, be inconvenienced, help and assist all the "least of these" and more. To be faithful in the littlest of things that carry the biggest sentiments.
This year I want to be inconvenienced because I want to be more like Christ. I want to stop being so selfish and instead be more selfless. Because how much more was Christ inconvenienced for me? So much to the point of death on the cross.
So, this is my one and only resolution to 2017: to be intentionally inconvenienced. Be willing to look around me and stop more, because maybe no one has ever stopped for them before. Christ sure did, and He did for me too.
