I hate New Years Resolutions. Hate 'em. In my humble but accurate opinion, they've been pretty worthless. Why? Starting something is the easy part…it's the part about finishing well that we have hang ups with. You can disagree with me if it makes you feel better. I know that NYRs serve as a beginning point to change things in our lives. If that gives you hope for some aspect of your life…great. It just doesn't do it for me. Maybe because I'm a cynic, er, um…I mean a realist. And in reality (again, for me), no estan trabajo. Siento. 

Pero…But…I do like being recharged this time of year. Our retreat was awesome. Even though I only got  total of 8 hours of sleep in the past 3 days, our students were amazing. So was our God. 

After catching up on some of my sleep this morning (to recharge my body), I've been reading (to recharge my brain) some of Len Sweet's thoughts on transformation. And there's a key element I found here.

While writing about the transformation from being Learned to being A Learner, kind of a 'life-was-a-quiz-show-but-now-it's-a-discovery- channel kind of thing, he makes a great observation at the end:

"When I was learned, I said, "Take it from me." Now that I'm a learner, I say, "Don't take it from me." I boast no immaculate perceptions. I see through a glass dimly.

I'm still an academic. As a theologian, I have my little bottle of Windex and am cleaning that glass for all it's worth. I'm trying to get rid of as much fog and film as I can. But the best I will ever to is to "know in part." I will never "know it all." God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) , and God's thoughts not our thoughts.

There are still some know-it-alls out there. Some people are like Moses. They think they can see the face of God . . . and live.

The best we can do is hear God's voice, and in rare moments of mystical and metaphorical ecstasy, gently touch his face."

It's nice to have some days that are less foggy than others. Always remember to keep your Windex close by. But it's good to remember that non of us has a completely fog-free glass…