Today is my first day back to work since… well sometime last year, no sometime last decade? Anyway it’s time to get the body up and and going and get working on the new year. And I am ready for it!
Over the break, Amy pointed out a story to me about a suicidal heroin addict named Shane Niemeyer, who turned himself into an Iron-man Triathlete. When Shane was asked about his change he said that the triathlons gave him what he needed – a purpose. Man, isn’t that great!
But here is what is greater. Check this out from Ephesians 2.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God has given us not only a purpose – to do good, but he also has provided us with forgiveness, and a reward. If Shane can go from the depths of despair to becoming a triathlete, just think what you can do!
I can now leave behind what was in 2010 and start fresh and new as I approach the problems and situations at work with a new view and a renewed vigor that only comes from some time away and with a newly rediscovered purpose!
Let the year begin!