I have never written resolutions. Have never been interested. And I will probably continue to never write resolutions.
This month, I was reminded of Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle and how we are to Name people in stead of X-ing them. If you have never read the book, you should! It is a battle for Charles Wallace’s life because the Echthroi want to X his life so he cannot do the good he was created for. His sister, Meg, is speaking with the cherub, Proginoskes:
“Progo! You said we were Namers. I still don’t know: what is a Namer?”
“I’ve told you. A Namer has to know who people are, and who they are meant to be. I don’t know why I should have been shocked at finding the Echthroi on your planet.”
“Why are they here?”
“Echthroi are always about when there’s a war. They start all war.”
“Progo, I saw all that awfulness you took me to see, that tearing of the sky, and all, but you still haven’t told me exactly what Echthroi are.”
Proginoskes probed into her mind, searching for words she could understand. “I think your mythology would call them fallen angels. War and hate are their business, and one of their chief weapons is un-Naming – making people not know who they are. If someone knows who he really is, really knows, then he doesn’t need to hate. That’s why we still need Namers, because there are places throughout the universe like your planet Earth. When everyone is really and truly Named, then the Echthroi will be vanquished.”– excerpt from Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle, also found in Glimpses of Grace Daily Thought and Reflections by Madeleine L’Engle
This year, I want to work at being a Namer, Naming each person to the good, the Glory of God inside them shining out to a lost world.
This may be considered a resolution, but I never write them…
Happy new year!
(In Madeleine’s books the Star Gazing Rock often shows up. This is my drawing from when I first read the Time Quintet Series)