New Year, Same Us Part 2
Thank you for coming back for another edition of this thing we do here. Last newsletter I gave some reflections on 2020, you can catch that here. Today, I’d like to share with you some things I’m excited about/hoping for this year.
Creativity
The last few months have given me the opportunity to explore things I previously didn’t have time for. I started this newsletter because I love writing and I love teaching about Jesus. After almost a year of doing this, my dream has expanded a bit. This year, I plan to try my hand at creating more things to better serve you all. That includes videos, podcasts, and more written content. I promise not to let perfect be the enemy of good and get these things out sooner than later.
Intentionality
The older you get the more you realize how precious time is. With that, I’m seeking to be more intentional with how I use my time and steward my relationships. There is nothing more convicting than a three year old yelling at you to take your headphones out or the one year old searching your ears to see if there’s something in them. As much as I love my abundance of podcasts, I am doing my children a great disservice by being here but not present.
In the same vein, three little ones can really get in the way of time with my wife. As much as I love the various projects I’m working on, every night can’t be spent toiling away in front of my computer. And every bit of time we get together can’t be spent binging some show. I take seriously my call to love, honor, and cherish this woman and I’ll be sure to let my actions show that.
Once the wife and kids are taken care of, I also have to think about how intentional I am with my time to myself. I squeeze every possible chance I can to get some work in but I need to be more intentional about rest, pursuit of the Lord, and what I take in. That last one is important. What we feed ourselves is going to be what comes out of us. I had a period last year that lasted several weeks where I had not read Scripture, listened to any sermons, talked with any Christian friends, and of course wasn’t praying. Naturally that started to creep into my soul and presented feelings, attitudes, and actions I didn’t like. I can’t let that happen again.
Lastly, I want to be intentional with my friendships. The scarcity of time reminds me that we can’t go deep with everybody. It’s just not possible. I want to serve those I call ‘friends’ well and make sure they know that they are loved and valued. In all the mess of 2020, one of the most beautiful bright spots was the deep love I experienced from friends. The amount of food we received when our little guy was born was astounding. The dear friends who looked after our girls when we needed time away were life savers. I pray that I’m able to exhibit that same love.
Sharing More
The most poignant feedback I got last year was that my best work was my most vulnerable work. I am at my best when I am being honest and true to myself. Although i’ve done it for almost a year now, I don’t wear masks well. So part of the greater intentionality I’m seeking is going to be through these newsletters.
I want to equip my readers with what it means to be a Christian where and when you are. I do that best by sharing where I am and where I have been. So that means less vague “for everyone” posts and more audience specific writing. In order to do that well, I need you to please flood me with your feedback, the more I hear from you, the more relevant I can be to you.
One Last Thing
One of the projects I’ve been working on is Labor Forward. It’s a Black history education initiative. What we learn in school is often limited to slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and now President Obama. I’m working to change that. You can sign up for the Labor Forward Black History Matters course now. Every Monday night in February, we’ll walk through different aspects of Black history and its importance in shaping this country. You can sign up here. Hope to see you there!
Be sure to follow Labor Forward on Instagram because there’s a lot more coming!