At the end of 2011 I chose 3 words for 2012. They were: Focus, Discipline, and Document. Instead of making traditional resolutions, I thought I would let these 3 words guide me throughout this year. January is gone, and I think I did okay as far as my three words go.
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As part of “discipline,” one of my three words for 2012, I dusted off the treadmill today and hesitantly jumped on it for about 20 minutes for the first time in about 6 months.
I was a little embarrassed by the fact that I could only do about 1.2 miles in 20 minutes. When Nike+ automatically shared my synced run, I cringed at the fact that I could only post a 20 minute run on the treadmill.
But then I realized that we all have to start somewhere.
No matter what you’re trying to do, whether it’s save money, lose weight, get healthy, learn another language, read the Bible, or any other goal you might have, you have to start somewhere.
The comment said, “Believe me Dennis that you have achieved it. For me your page is a useful tool. I bless you and encourage you. Keep going your articles, comments, and everything that your page reflects is a blessing. Oh, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this way. May God continue to use you, bro, you know that the reward comes from above. Greetings to you and your team.”
I think what happened sums up what we do in ministry. We do the best we can with what we have. We put in a lot of time and hard work. We look for ways to help others, and we wait to see if God blesses what we are doing.
My prayer for all of our ministry in Latin America is that we can be instruments to help propel others forward in their ministries.
Chris Brogan suggests that it’s easier to think of three words you want to describe your year instead of making “resolutions.” I like the idea because it helps me focus more on general things I want to focus on instead of specific single goals.
I liked it enough to spend some time thinking about my three words, and I think the following words will help me in 2012.
Discipline. Focus. Document.
Twice a year we have to take our car for an emissions inspection. Our latest turn to do it was November/December. So the Friday before Christmas we took it to the same place we always take it to get inspected, knowing it was in great shape. Our little 2004 Stratus has about 50,000 kilometers on it, so we knew it should pass without any problems. We were wrong.
They did the normal prodding and running it through the machine, and when they finished, the guy told me that it didn’t pass. When I asked what it was, he said, “It could be anything.” I was (to put it nicely) very upset. They couldn’t tell me why my car failed inspection, and they told me I had to take it to a mechanic and get it re-inspected by the 31st of December. That would be a problem for me since I was planning on driving it to Oaxaca for the camp that week.
Dennis I want to thank you for your time. I usually come to the website when I am discouraged. And I find encouragement here, in the inspiration that I receive from your work. Thanks again.
Many times we don’t know how much of an encouragement what we do is to other people. You can be an encouragement without really trying or knowing it. I wonder if Victor understands how much of an encouragement his comment is to me. His comment will encourage me to keep writing.
