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Health & Fitness

New Year's Resolutions

Rev. Michael Piazza, Senior Pastor of Virginia-Highland Church, suggests that we all resolve to lose weight in the New Year ... but it isn't what you think!

Rev. Michael Piazza, Senior Pastor of Virginia-Highland Church, suggests that we all resolve to lose weight in the New Year ... but it isn't what you think!

For many of us today is our first day back at work or at home or back in the routine of life. We hopefully haven’t already broken too many of our New Year’s resolutions. If you haven’t gotten around to making any, may I suggest a couple?

  1. Many of us resolve to lose some weight. That is one of my resolutions, but the weight around our waist may be easier to lose than the weights on our shoulders or in our hearts. What about resolving to lose the weight of resentment, or bitterness, or un-forgiveness? Excess physical weight can kill you physically, but those other weights kill your joy for living each new day.
  2. Many of us resolve to exercise regularly. That is a good thing because it will make you stronger, but what are you doing to be a stronger, healthier person? Perhaps we should exercise our patience with those who try it. What about exercising our generosity with those who have little? Perhaps we need to exercise our souls by being as committed to worship, study, or prayer. Like exercise, those things require discipline, determination, and persistence. One trip a week to the gym probably isn’t going to get your body in shape; why do you think only one hour in a pew will exercise your soul?
  3. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to learn something new. That is one of the best things we can do to make this year different from the last. What about learning to pray or meditate?
  4. Some of our resolutions have to do with our job, but what about a resolution about our vocation? Jesus called us to be his disciple and to live as a servant of the Servant. Our jobs may give our lives money, but how we live should give our lives meaning.

It's funny, but, in light of some of these resolutions, exercise and losing weight seem pretty easy.

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