Sukkot 2022 RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION
At this time of year I always start to think about the subject of resolutions.
I feel like this time of year is an appropriate time to make resolutions.
While it isn’t the “New Year” in the sense that it is the first day of the Jewish calendar year, it is the end of agricultural year.
As we’ve discussed recently, Rosh Hashanna means “head of the year” and is seen in Jewish tradition as the beginning/end of the civil year.
Regardless, tabernacles is the end, the conclusion of the feast cycle,
The Torah cycle is coming to a close
The food has been harvested,
And the year feels as though it is coming to a close around this time,
And therefore another is about to begin
What is a resolution?
The words resolve and resolution have multiple meanings.
For example - in music.
Resolution refers to the change from a dissonant chord or sound to a harmonizing one,
There are many common chord progressions found in music.
Usually it will start and end at the same place in order to create and resolve the feeling of dissonance.
(Example)
The dissonant resolves or has resolution in the harmony of the last chord in the progression
You can also refer to this phenomenon as creating and resolving “tension”
In fact this is kind of the original meaning of the Latin root where this came from - resolvere (to loosen, release, or dissolve.)
It is partly the chord progression that gives a song its particular feeling of movement.
Even though various chords have varying degrees of harmony, and not all of them sound particularly great next it each other,
if all of the notes were the same and there was no disharmony or conflict that needed to be resolved, it would evoke no feeling of movement or change, and it would hardly even be considered a song.
It is the same with a story - You have
Exposition (the setting of the stage, explanation of who the characters are and what their goals are etc.)
Rising action (the characters experience various conflicts - the tension escalates, which leads to:)
Climax (The exciting part where the final conflict happens)
Falling action (The tension has ended and we see what effects the climax has)
Resolution (The loose ends are tied up - often ending where it began in a sense)
In other words, the questions have been answered- the problem has been resolved,
Just like with music, every story needs the elements of conflict and resolution in order for the story to progress
To be a truly good story, the characters themselves need to have gone on some kind of a journey and been changed or learned something by the end of it.
Likewise, we say that we need to solve or resolve a question or problem.
That is, to find a solution or resolution.
So that is one kind of meaning.
However, resolution or resolve can also mean to decide, determine, settle.
We also have resolute which means “admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering”
I think of these words as being more like fixing or tightening than loosing and releasing.
However, when you think about a resolution to question or conflict -
It is the conflict that creates the tension and the resolution that relieves it.
Then, once you have determined the answer you then have a course of action which to take - that is where you resolve to accomplish it.
So why is this important?
Who here has made a new years resolution?
How many have broken a new year’s resolution?
We can often start out good for a while, then we kind of lose focus and let things slip
Sometimes we have excuses for stopping or not even really starting.
Not enough time, boring, too much work, don’t know where to start, feeling discouraged.
w/ spiritual things,
Condemnation can prevent us from moving forward.
Puts us in a funk
We start thinking about where we could be or think we should be
Can be discouraging
Acknowledge where we are
Realize it’s not all about being at the end goal
It’s about taking steps that are on track with the end goal
Body builder
Start with prayer
Examine where you are
Be resolved
I believe, help my unbelief
“Fake it till you make it”
Feels disingenuous to pretend, incongruity.
However, this ignores the reality that things take practice.
Attitude can change our course, our outcome
Deal with the underlying error
Make the effort/ do the work
There is forgiveness
Mercy
Grace
Cross
Write it down
Make the time
Get the scriptures
Believe
Resolve /Resolution
I would like for us all to come up with a resolution. Not a new year’s resolution exactly. Not a specific goal - “Get to x pounds in one year.” or “Finish organizing the attic”.
Not that those aren’t good to have.
I suggest doing those too,
But first start with a vision.
In other words, come up with a resolution not as a specific action that you are deciding to take, but instead an answer to a conundrum, or a resolution to a question - Who do you want you and your family to be? What is important to you?
This resolution is the end goal, the thing that you are moving toward. It’s the vision.
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 - vision - prophetic vision.
Vision - Seers - those who see. This is referring not to physical sight, but the eyes of the mind, or the spirit.
While it is true that prophetic vision is given by God,
those that hear and receive a vision relayed to them by a prophet can in a lesser way see the same things
by visualizing with their own heart and mind the things spoken of by the prophet.
All of scripture is this way.
We can take hold of the prophetic spiritual words of Scripture in part by visualizing or imagining those things
As a focus of our desire or aspiring to them ourselves
Visualization is important in any task.
Painting, Writing, Sculpting
Building,
Engineering,
Managing or leading people
It’s important to see the end goal - to have a vision
Vision statement
Write a draft or a list of ideas that you want to include
Then re-write it in a sentence or paragraph in the form of an “I am” or “We are” statement.
After that, write 1-3 things that you would like to get done.
Important to not only have the vision, to make the resolution, but to remain resolute by continually examining ourselves and our immediate goals in light of the ideal that we have set before us.
In that way, our short term goals can be revised to better reflect our current needs and circumstances but still stay in line with what we are striving toward.
Areas to consider:
Personal prayer & Scripture reading
Family devotion time
Diet
Exercise
Finances
Projects
Plans
Career
Education
Gardening
Evangelism
Spiritual gifts
Personal growth
Community involvement
Leisure & Entertainment
Vacations & Trips
Organization
Hobbies
Reading (non-Scripture)
Role as a
Spouse,
Parent
Child
Church member
Friend
Citizen