My New Year’s Resolution usually deals with working on my mind, body, and soul.

MIND
Each year, I set out to read at least 24 books — for leisure and work purposes.
This year, I’m going to fall way short of that goal.
The books I’ve read so far are:
Next Evangelicalism by Soong Chan Rah 
The God We Can Know by Rob Fuquay 
Roadmap to Reconciliation by Brenda Salter McNeil  
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Books (a re-reading from high school days)
How to Be Here by Rob Bell
Executing Grace by Shane Claiborne
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriaty
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Jesus’ Plan for a New World by Richard Rohr
Under Wraps by Jessica LaGrone and Rob Renfroe

And am hoping to finish Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick, Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and Where God was Born by Bruce Feiler by 12/31 (Yea right…) still leaving me far short of my goal of 24. There’s always 2017…

Also — the Richard Rohr book was by far my favorite book I read this year. Still chewing on things he wrote.

SOUL
One thing I added to my daily routine since moving to Texas is to start my work day with 3 minutes of silence. Before I check my email, phone messages  — before I start any work or “work” I set my timer for 3 minutes and sit in silence. When the timer goes off, I say the Shema (Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength) and tackle whatever needs to be tackled. It’s just a way to center myself and another way to be reminded of who I am, whose I am, and who I really work for. 

The one thing I consistently never followed through on, though, was working on the BODY. 
But that all changed two weeks ago.
There’s a UFC Gym near by my house. I checked it out. Took a complimentary class, then signed up. When I told my wife that I was going to sign up for the UFC Gym, all I could think of was this scene from Friends:

But I ain’t training to become any kind of fighter. I actually asked, “I don’t gotta get hit by anyone do I?”
“Not unless you want to.”
Glad to know that’s an option.

I just want to get into shape. And be fit. And healthy. And all the other things I should be concerned about since I’m on the other side of 30.

I’ve been trying to go to their 6am classes — since that’s the easiest time to fit in a workout. I’m woefully out of shape and can barely keep up and get my butt kicked by a 150lbs punching bag. But it’s been fun. My body is clearly not used to this schedule and all the sweat that its producing. It’s good for me though. It really is. At least that’s what I keep repeating to myself when I can no longer lift up my hands to punch the bag… But it’s… good for me…

Let’s just hope I keep at it…