At this time of year, many people will be putting together resolutions for the new year. I have always thought that this was a crazy idea. If change needs to be made, why wait until New Years Day. Make the changes when they are necessary.

At this time of year, I do, however, tend to look back at the past year and focus on the good things from the previous year. While 2021 was not the best of years (I think we all relate to this sentiment), there are several things that stand out for the year.

The Bible in a Year podcast.

One of the best things that I did this year was to subscribe to receive these daily readings. I will admit that I have tried to read through the Bible in the past. However, I would get hung up on the long lists of names, the disjointed storyline when reading through book by book, and when events were repeated or out of sequence.

In this podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz uses The Great Adventure Bible Timeline (developed by Jeff Cavins) to tie together the Bible thematically. The podcast highlights how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell the amazing story of salvation. If you are interested in the listening to the podcast in 2022, there are many ways to subscribe (YouTube, Hallow, Podcast app, etc).

Retirement.

According to Wikipedia, “retirement is the withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or from one’s active working life”. According to me, “retirement is the best part of a career”. Not having to set an alarm, being able to complete more of my crafting ideas, gardening without having to fit in into my work schedule, and spending more time with family have all been the highlights of retirement for me.

Daily Journaling.

I have always keep myself very busy doing various projects or crafts. However, I would often end my day wondering what I actually accomplished that day. So, on my first day of retirement I started keeping a journal of what I did each day, along with some thoughts of my day. Having things written down, I am able to look back and see that I was productive each day.

As we start 2022, I am looking forward to what this new year will bring – another trip through the Bible, more time with family and friends, and more crafts and gardening.

I pray that you will have a happy, healthy year, and that you will find the glory in God’s creation and the joy of his marvelous love.