“I’d like to end my gym membership – I just don’t have the time to go.”
“I’m so very sorry to hear that. Maybe you could rework your schedule and find an extra hour in there to get to the gym.”
“Thanks for the tip, but I’d rather just end the membership.”
“How about a free session with a personal trainer to help you refocus your training goals?”
“That would require me to drive to the gym. I think we’ve already covered that I don’t have the time.”
“How about we suspend your account for only nine dollars a month until the Spring?”
“How about we end my membership so that I am spending zero dollars a month for the whole year?”
“So there’s nothing we can do to get you to stay?”
“Nope. Good talk.”
In the process of ending a gym membership, I wonder how many people are convinced not to cancel their membership? I was determined because I’d been wasting money and was pumping iron at casa de Harvey anyway. I had resolved that there was no trick or attempt that “Matt” could use which would steer me off course. By the way, I do realize that a better example of resolve would have been my determination to go to the gym come hell or high water, but I’m working with what I’ve got.
Resolve, as a characteristic, is sticking with a plan. We all know how plans go though. Hiccups in timing, relationship miscues, unrewarded efforts, and general lethargy can all build up to plans coming under fire.
What does a business owner do when expenses outweigh profits? He either adjusts the plan in order to stay in business or quits.
What happens when an aspiring career is ended by budget cutbacks? Either an adjustment as to how to attain the career goals, or abandonment of the plan to look elsewhere.
I used to think that I controlled most of the aspects of my life. I had the checkbook, I went to work, and I was the one who decided how to steer my future. As I have gotten a bit older I’ve realized that of all the people on the planet I only make decisions for one of them – some guy named Bill in Canada. If all of those people are making decisions and taking action, then is it more likely that their decisions will affect me or that mine will affect them?
I don’t want to be trite by bringing up Proverbs 3:6, but it really makes a lot of sense. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (NASB).” Does that mean God will honor all of my plans if I inject “Lord” into every third sentence? If so, Lord, I need a motorcycle and a supermodel wife, Lord!
I really don’t think it works like that because an attitude of resolve means that we stick with the plan of acknowledging God while He straightens our paths. Ever prayed about a relationship and couldn’t see then why it needed to end, but now praise the Almighty for his direction? That was your resolve in seeking God and him straightening a path for you. If resolve looks more like us insisting on straightening paths in order that God will acknowledge us, it’s a bit backward.
With all of that being said, maybe I should have kept the gym membership. I didn’t pray about it and maybe God’s straight path for me is to be all cut up. That way, Harley Davidson will insist that I be statuesquely be seen on one of their bikes and the supermodels will flock to me.
Or, maybe I’d better just concentrate more on acknowledging God in my life and see what happens.
