What Does the Lord Require of Me?

"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" —Micah 6:8

The plastic tree is stored, the plastic candles are shelved, the entangled Christmas lights are crammed into illegal paper bags.  The Christmas season is sadly over, but as much as I enjoy December's bacchanalian festivities, there is a part of me that finds the traditional final day of the Christmas season—New Year's Day—nearly as exciting. Closure brings forth newness: new friendships, new joy, new goals, new surprises, new growth, new liturgies.  
Some of my friends contend that my personality reminds them of Alan Milne's old, depressed, grey donkey Eeyore (would you be happy if your tail was detachable and had a pink bow wrapped around it?)  But on New Year's Day, I feel more like the beloved, bouncing Tigger. New Years is throwing away that old stretched-out, tattered, fuzzy sweater and putting on a new, no fuzz, day-after sale cashmere. It feels good. Although my new Christmas sweater will eventually find its way into a Goodwill bag next December (sounds like Eeyore, huh?), for now, it feels nice on my aging body. Out with the old, in with the new. 
At the beginning of each new year, like millions of others, I typically write a list of resolutions—fewer desserts, help with the dishes more often, keep my desk organized, floss EVERY day, graciously allow greedy drivers to into my driving lane—knowing all too well that I will break them within a week or two. Honestly, no dessert for a year?
This year, I only have one resolution—to read Micah 6:8 every morning and evening before I go to bed. Every day in 2017 I will ask: did I do justice, did I love kindness, and did I walk humbly with my God?  

 Tigger says,"Bouncing is what Tiggers do best." May you "bounce" with Jesus throughout 2017. 

 Note: If you are interested in examining your day (praying backwards) go to http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/rummaging-for-god-praying-backward-through-your-day




  

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