The "Next Year" Syndrome
01-10-2007
by Johann Snyder

"Well, maybe next year." That's something you hear quite often from a fan of any sports team or from anyone who makes New Year's resolutions. The thing that strikes me most about this phrase is its sense of resignation; its sense of finality. Of course, one can't get around that when it comes to sports. When "your" team loses in the playoffs (or in the case of my team the Broncos don't even make it to the playoffs), one can't do anything but look forward to next season and hope for a better performance. However, it's a different story with New Year's resolutions, because there's nothing that prevents one from trying again before next season, except for our own lack of motivation.

I know a manager of a gym and he hates the month of January because it's the busiest time of the year. The gym is flooded with new memberships, and with old members who haven't been there since last January. Come February, everything gets back to normal and he gets his life back for another eleven months. Why, I ask, does this trend persist year after year? The only answer I can come up with is that we don't believe we have the opportunity to try again. Here's what I think happens: A person resolves to lose weight or to get into better shape. They start dieting or working out on a regular basis for a week, and then eat all the leftover sweets from the holidays or forget to go to the gym for a week because it's Playoffs (Yes I'll watch, even if my team didn't make it). So the resolution is broken and they resign themselves to "maybe next year" when they'll try the same resolution over again. It's such a cop-out for not trying. It's a euphemism for failing; and when you think about it, it's actually quite depressing when you think about it, to fail year after year.

Fortunately for those of us who are Christians, we don't serve a God who believes in New Year's resolutions. *GASP* How could I presume to know such a thing? Well, the way I see it, God isn't one to wait for a New Year in order for change to occur; He wants to help us make a New Life's resolution right now. What's more, if we blow that resolution, He doesn't want us to wait until next year to try over. He wants us get up and try again right now. The Bible tells us in Isaiah that "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you" and then in Second Corinthians we're told that "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (emphasis mine). God is ready to help us, to save us, right now; not next year. When we stumble, He's ready to help now, not when we make a new resolution at the beginning of another year. We serve the God of the second chance, of the eighth chance, of the five hundred forty seventh and two-thirds chance (although I'm hoping that's all the chances I'll need. By the five hundred forty seventh and seven-eighths chance, I should have it all down, or Jesus will have returned…I hope). So when it comes to your walk with God, whatever you resolve to do, do it in His strength, not your own (Galatians 3:3), and if you mess up, let Him help you get back on your feet to try again, and again, and again if necessary. We don't have to be resigned when we screw up, we don't have to sigh and say, "Well maybe next year, eh Lord?" Seize the day to start anew right now, and right now, and right now.

This past week, Broncos fans were graphically reminded how we aren't all guaranteed a "maybe next season" or "maybe next year". Although the Broncos will get another shot at the playoffs next season, tragically not all of them will be there for it. The tragic death of cornerback Darrent Williams is a shocking reminder that we never know how much time we have. He doesn't have a "next season", and even worse, he doesn't have another chance to make sure he's ready to meet God face to face. The echoing sounds of gunfire on the darkened, snowy streets of Denver shook every Denver fan from their gaze at next year and focused it sharply on the present. You never know how many seasons you have to play. You don't know how many more New Years you'll see. Don't give in to the "maybe next year" mentality. If you change anything in this year, realize that our God is the God of the now; He is I Am, not I was or I Will Be. He wants to help you today. He wants to change you now. He wants you to live for the present, not for the promise of other seasons and other years that may never come.

Johann "Yo" Snyder is the host of the Mid-day show at M88 radio, 88.3FM in Albuquerque, NM. He writes a monthly blog that takes some elements of current events and pop culture to illustrate spiritual points. The archives for these articles can be found at: http://www.m88.org/yo-duh.asp