January 2 Newsletter

Monday Moment:

A New New Year’s Resolution

When it comes to talking about self-care, New Year’s Resolutions can feel like a daunting task. I often think about it like this: we know what we need to do, but the idea of change often traps us in a paralyzing medium. We are stuck between wanting to do something and the bombardment of messages telling us the likelihood of success is minimal. Even if we are not folks self-identifying as perfectionists or achievers, these sorts of thoughts may lead us to not even bother with New Year’s Resolutions.

So the question befalls…

Why do we make New Year’s Resolutions?

I would suggest that we make resolutions with the best of intentions, but then “life” gets in the way (y’all know what I am talking about…). It seems like we set ourselves up for failure because we expect too much out of ourselves in a lived experiences realm. We have made resolutions unbearable because we have not treated them in a truly forming way to our self-care. We try to lose weight, spend more time with family, spend less money, and the list goes on and on, but we never truly get to the root of the problem.

Self-care is about baby steps, as hard as that may be to expect, and it comes with an immense amount of grace. If we are unwilling or unable to abide by these two ideas then I fear we will continue to let our New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside before we even get to February.

Therefore, let’s resolve together to focus on a holistic manner of self-care in 2023.

You are probably thinking at this point, “Novel concept RunninRev…I never thought of that before.” (said with the greatest amount of sarcasm).

I know it seems simple, but here it is for each and every one of us. What if instead of the pointed goal of say spending less money, going to the gym more, etc…we made the goal focus on the holistic meaning of self-care? What if our self-care-related resolutions are just too focused that we lose sight of why we are even making them? How would it look to name our New Year’s resolution around the true meaning of our intentions, and then create smaller goals that feel achievable as we go throughout the year?

I think a broad resolution can be a smart thing to do. Write it somewhere (IN LARGE LETTERS), and then each month revisit that vision and discover your smaller goals to help you get there. Plan a month or two or three at a time. Know that a year is a long time, and to think we can just make a broad goal is not helpful, but making the resolution that is true to the heart of our desires is going to take us further (at least I hope…).

On the Podcast

Active Faith Podcast

Oh, boy was December a fun time…

Had some interviews lined up with the hope of scheduling and releasing episodes throughout the Christmas and New Year break. However, COVID hit me and my household, and life became about getting myself, pastorally, ready for Christmas, and caring for myself and my family. Therefore, it turned into a time of renewal and reflection on the Podcast, and the network at large. There are some changes coming to the pod, but I will highlight those in this Friday’s episode (be on the lookout and subscribe/follow so it just shows up in your feed).

Also if you are interested in being a guest on the pod, I would love to have you on to highlight your story and your journey of self-care. Email me at andrew@activefaithpod.com.

Listen to all the episodes on your favorite podcasting platform.
To find it on your favorite platform click here

On the Substack

In the Pulpit

I was not in the pulpit this last Sunday, because I was spending some time on vacation after Christmas. I have pondered, while I miss the pulpit, what it is like for me to have a time of rest and renewal with family and friends.

On the Horizon: I am beginning a new worship series on January 8. As we enter the ordinary time that is this season after Epiphany, I am going to explore with my congregation the nature of the Kin-dom of God. As we move through this ordinary time and toward the time of preparation that is Lent, we. do unpacking how we see the Kin-dom of God in our lives, and what it means to live by that example each and every day.

Be sure to subscribe to RunninRev Preaches through the Active Faith Substack. These posts have a link to the sermon audio and my manuscript available.

RunninRev On the Run

Yesterday I ran my first race of 2023. For the past few years (especially with COVID) I would often run a 5k on my own to have a baseline of my fitness going into the year. I wanted to see where I was and find out what I need to build upon for the coming year on the run. This year, I actually entered a timed race, and it was a joy to share it with many of my RunSomeMo Run Club friends who support me on my run journey and me on theirs.

For a Race Recap subscribe to On A Long Run in the Active Faith Substack.