“Circling” (12/30/2025)

I caught myself doing it again yesterday – “circling.” You know how you come to a place that screams for your attention, and you circle it telling yourself you really should tackle it, but you don’t. My desktop right now looks like a troll station. And so today, I promised myself, I am going to sit down and tackle that sucker. And I will, right after I write my blog. I’ll just circle a bit longer.

I considered giving up “circling” as a resolution. But I already picked my resolutions for this year; this coming year is my year for truly focusing on my relationships. So, I have sort of set “circling” to the side; I was considering it for my Lenten “giving up” list.

I realize my susceptibility to “circling” make me like the oldest son in Jesus’ parable who responds “yes” to the Father’s assignment but then doesn’t go. And I realize my “circling” isn’t relegated exclusively to the tangible and visible aspects of my life. There are corners of my spiritual life that I know need attention, but I have a habit of playing the Scarlet O’Hara card there, too, saying, “Tomorrow’s another day; I will think about it tomorrow.”

But this morning as I look at my desk and spot my calendar upon it, I recognize that the time has come to “land.” So, I took out my journal, and under my resolutions list for 2026, I wrote “Quit circling and land.” I realize that if I don’t tackle this one, I probably won’t make progress on my relationships either. They are connected – at least they are for me.

Years ago, when I was talking with my Grandma Lena about what I should do with my life, we talked about how the world would be different if everyone just did what they could, addressed what they saw. She was a wise woman, my Grandma Lena. She said, “God doesn’t ask us to do everything, but God does ask us to what we can whenever we can and wherever we can.” It was Grandma Lena’s way of reminding me that the world doesn’t need a Savior, it already has one, Jesus Christ; however, the world needs disciples to take the good news with us every day.

Loving Christ and living Christ isn’t something we can “circle.” It demands that we pick up our crosses daily and follow in our Savior’s footsteps. And He leads us to places where our love for Him is just what is needed at the moment. He leads us to others who are searching, others who need a faithful companion to help them remain faithful, to others who need the light of Christ to illuminate the darkness that has overtaken their lives. I cannot love Christ and live Christ “circling” at 10,000 feet. I must land.

May we be true disciples who hear Christ’s call to go out in His name. May we let it spur us to bring Christ to others and others to Christ. May the Spirit’s grace flood our minds and hearts with the desire to be Christ bearers in this moment, at this place. May today be the day we set down procrastinations of all kinds and pick up commitment to Christ.

Until tomorrow, may we all love well.