“What,” asks my lunch companion, “are your New Year’s resolutions?”

I hate that question…

I hate it because I am supposed to have an answer.

It’s an unwritten law…

We are all socially obligated to make New Year’s resolutions.

Only weird people like me skip them.

Not only am I obligated to have a resolution…

I am obligated (or so I tell myself) to have a resolution that is…

• So witty people will laugh about it for years…

• So deep and thoughtful only Einstein could have created it…

• So compassionate Mother Teresa would gasp.

With those guidelines in mind, I pause, look thoughtful, and reply…“I could always lose a few pounds.”

My place in the history of great conversationalists is secured.

Obviously, I need help with New Year’s resolutions.  

Where to look?  

The internet.

Type in “popular New Years’ resolutions”, and up comes a site from the U.S. government listing the top ten…

How will my resolution compare?

There it is!  At the top of the list!

USA’s Top Ten New Year’s resolutions:

1. Lose Weight
2. Volunteer to Help Others
3. Quit Smoking
4. Get a Better Education
5. Get a Better Job
6. Save Money
7. Get Fit
8. Eat Healthy Food
9. Manage Stress
10. Manage Debt

Wow.

My resolution is number 1!

And like all but one of the resolutions on the list…

It focuses on “Me”…

What if God wrote our New Year’s resolutions?

Would he focus on a  richer, smarter, skinnier, healthier more important me…

Or would He focus on love?

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13 

Love for others…

…love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8 

Love for Him…

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  Mark 12:30

An original version of this post appeared in January, 2014