What will it be?

If you ever need that “feel good feeling” you may be in need of a “Pollyanna” experience.  Many of you can reflect to the Disney movie about the optimistic young girl who always found something to be glad about—even when bad things happened.  Do you ever go discouraged with the way things are going?  Maybe it is not something terribly bad, it just not what you expected or even wanted.  Such is life.  2011 may have had its share of ups and downs for you.  How did you handle them?  I am guessing that 2012 will probably be the same way, filled with ups and downs.  Wouldn’t the coming year be much more pleasant with a “Pollyanna” outlook on life.  Today would be a good day to resolve to look at life in a more optimistic way.
Somewhere in the world right now a farmer is dropping seeds into the ground.  Soon those seeds will begin to change the place where they were planted.  The carefully prepared soil that appears barren today will become a field ready for harvest.  I believe that in the same way, our New Year’s resolutions can be seeds to alter the landscape of our life as well as the lives of others.  You have probably read the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.  It is a powerful model of a longing spirit to bring positive change in a hurting world.  Assisi said; “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”  WOW!!  Can you imagine the change in your life and others life if we approached 2012 with this type of spirit?

A farmer who sows wheat is never going to be surprised when wheat grows from the ground where it was planted.  It is that universal law of sowing and reaping.  It is the same principle that Paul used to illustrate a corresponding spiritual principle.  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).  Wouldn’t it be grand to sow a “Pollyanna” spirit wherever life takes us this year?  It is up to us as to what type of spirit we will sow.  Paul continues in Galatians by saying; “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”  Even though we find ourselves in the middle of winter on January 1, 2012, it is still planting time!!  Make your resolutions and renew them in prayer daily.  Put those resolutions into practice each and every day.  Resolve today to be optimistic, because the Lord is going to be with you.  Today then is planting time.  God has promised each of  us “In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”  (Galatians 6:9).  Remember sow today what you want to reap tomorrow.