At this time of year I notice the unpopularity of “New Year’s Resolutions.” Many discourage participation in this age old tradition. It is probably about this time of year that most resolutions have been broken and there is a sense of failure about resolutions ever working. In spite their unpopularity; I am a fan of New Year’s resolutions. There is much about my life I need to change, but that isn’t my only focus. I practice this tradition because I like the challenge of a new beginning. There are too many good things to do in our world and I often become overwhelmed at the possibilities and I end up doing nothing. The same goes with my daily life. The list of improvements I need to focus on to live a healthy and vital life are endless and knowing where to start is often paralyzing. New Year’s resolutions are a way to take stock and pick a few growing edges to work on for the next year.

My New Year’s resolutions are usually fairly small and innocuous. My goal is not to complicate life, but to grow and to make a difference in my daily life and in my world. Sometimes the changes are as simple as wearing lip gloss, or sending a card once a month to my friends in prison. Sometimes the beginning of a New Year finds me thinking about changing my life in profound ways such as going overseas or new avenues of ministry or involvements. The important thing for me each New Year is to find ways to be in control of my life. Many years ago I realized I have a propensity to think like a victim: that I am a victim of my past, of my mistakes, of my failings, and of every bad thing that could happen in our world. It is hard to embrace and nurture growth when you think like a victim. In a world that is constantly changing and a world that is constantly challenging, growth is an important tool for living life abundantly.

I live in a world where the needs are enormous as are opportunities to do good things individually and as a faith community. As a way to focus time, energy and resources in a corporate way, and as a way to make God’s Kingdom visible in Winchester, Indiana, 8 years ago our monthly meeting approved a list of five growing edges. These growing edges become a stepping off point in our world of infinite needs. With the beginning of each New Year, the meeting revisits their growing edges:

We seek to identify and prepare adults for youth ministry, and to give more attention to providing interesting and effective activities for the youth of our Meeting and community;
We seek to increase Friends' understanding of the importance of their individual ministries in the home and workplace, beyond the usual understanding of "church;"
We seek to give better energy and commitment to nurturing deeper spiritual community and fellowship in our Meeting, beyond the usual Sunday worship gatherings, through the establishment of home Bible studies, home fellowship groups, and other small group activities that take place outside the church building;
We seek to display more faithful financial stewardship for ministry, both by helping Friends to contribute enough to actually meet the church's annual operating budget (without depending on investment income to cover shortfalls), and by encouraging increased giving for missions; and in all the ministries of our Meeting and its participants;
We seek to teach and live in consistent agreement with the historic Friends testimonies of honesty and integrity, simplicity, equality of persons, and peace and nonviolence.

Each year I wonder how much progress we’ve actually made in the past year to live into these statements. There is always a sense the opportunity for growth is limitless for each growing edge. And sometimes it is hard to measure how far we’ve come with each passing year. As I pondered the growing edges this month, I had an epiphany. These growing edges move us beyond thinking like victims in our world: that our monthly meeting is a victim of the demographics of our county, or a victim of the mega church down the road, or a victim of bad financial times. These growing edges move us beyond thinking about the past and help us plan and shape our future.

A friend of mine who knew Adam Curle, a Quaker peacemaker from England, once told me Adam Curle was asked about his secret to making peace in places of conflict. He simply stated: You begin with a concern, and way will open. Today is a day these words mean much to me. I think back on the beginning of the civil rights movement in our nation, and the depth and breadth of change that needed to happen to live into the words from our Declaration of Independence that stated simply “All men (and I believe…all women) are created equal”. Fifty years ago, this was simply a concern and not a reality. Many people prayed, sacrificed, worked, and focused on what could and should happen in our world to make this a reality. Barack Obama being sworn in today as the 44th President of our nation is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of this way opening. I find myself filled with hope and encouragement for a world where way has opened to live into those powerful words from our constitution and for us as a nation to not remain victims of a difficult past.

As I think about the growing edges before our meeting yet another year, I am tempted to focus on all we haven’t accomplished. Today I see those growing edges as concerns that will open the way for change in our world someday. If we as a faith community pray, sacrifice, work and focus on seeking those things which we know can make visible God’s Kingdom in Randolph County, hope will triumph. Progress may be slow, at times immeasurable, but by beginning each year with these concerns we move from being victims in our world to opening the way to make good things a reality in our faith community.