I had the joy and privilege of serving at Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith’s Agape International Spiritual Center last week, facilitating the weekly reading from the pulpit in front of the huge congregation.

The reading happened to be one of my favorites – from the book “The Inward Journey” by Howard Thurman. I think it is very appropriate as we begin another New Year and consider what we want to put in place for the year.

In my previous blog post, I mentioned the statistic that roughly 5% of us actually succeed in sticking with the goals we set at the beginning of a New Year, and I talk about how to set a Smart Goal that is easier to stick with.
The reading in the above video is a beautiful reminder of how to stay inspired and committed to that resolution. The text of the reading is as follows:

Keep fresh before me
The moments of my high resolve.

Despite the dullness and barrenness of the days that pass, if I search with due diligence, I can always find a deposit left by some former radiance. But I had forgotten. At the time it was full-orbed, glorious, and resplendent. I was sure that I would never forget. In the moment of its fullness, I was sure that it would illumine my path for all the rest of my journey. I had forgotten how easy it is to forget.

There was no intent to betray what seemed so sure at the time.

My response was whole, clean, authentic. But little by little, there crept into my life the dust and grit of the journey. Details, lower-level demands, all kinds of crosscurrents – nothing momentous, nothing overwhelming, nothing flagrant – just wear and tear. If there had been some direct challenge – a clear-cut issue – I would have fought it to the end, and beyond.

In the quietness of this place, surrounded by the all-pervading Presence of God, my heart whispers: Keep fresh before me the moments of my High Resolve, that in fair weather or in foul, in good times or in tempests, in the days when the darkness and the foe are nameless or familiar, I may not forget that to which my life is committed.

Keep fresh before me
The moments of my high resolve.

(Taken from “The Inward Journey” by Howard Thurman, from the chapter “Growing Under Pressure”, page 47, entitled “The Moments Of My High Resolve”.)