Dear 2009 Self,

Speaking of fruitless resolutions, and setting yourself up for disappointment, I am just realizing on this cold day in March that my first quarter of 2009 is nearly over. And also that I wanted to read the entire standard works this year.


Since the standard works are essentially in four sections, that means I should be finishing the Old Testament by the end of this month. And I'm just barely escaping out of Egypt...I haven't even supped in the quiet grace of Esther, beheld the armies of Jericho, or thrown Daniel in the Lion's Den.


But I have to remind myself, that enjoying the scriptures as a long tall glass of water is the better part to being in a mindless hurry. So in order to not be discouraged, and give up altogether, I remember Moses:


Ever mindful of his weakness (slowness of speech among others)he steps into the darkness with faith: The Lord has a plan for me and His people.


With a staff of wonders, a faithful brother as a spokesman, he approaches powerful prideful Pharoah. He has permission to unleash wonders, signs, and tempests if it will get the job done. He has a covenant people who have a special election:

Slavery, burdens, and disregard for their life is standard. They have heavy hearts, and in modern-day society, a big-time class action lawsuit would have clearly laid out their injustices, and paid for the college education of the upcoming 3 generations of Israelites.


My movie-sense knows what is coming next, and how mighty Moses, with the Lord at His side, could rightly condemn the idolatry, dictatorship, and greed of Egypt.

Mrs. Olsen as Hollywood Screenwriter writing for "Moses": Your false gods will sustain you no longer. The true and living God shall scourge you for your disregard of human life! Let my people go or you will pay...big time! [glower eyes and lean in aggressively] You. Can't. Win. [steps back from a frozen and bewildered Pharoah and nudges off to the side]. Israel, go get your things. We're leaving. [pause. snickers quietly and turns back to Pharoah] Good luck getting your golden gazelle to the fourth story antechamber. [swaggers off as Pharoah's countenance hardens into an angry furrow].


So something like that right? But his first petition to Pharoah actually goes like this (Exo 5:3):





What all those movie-renditions kept leaving out, was that with each new petition to the Pharoah, and each subsequent wonder from heaven, was the quiet request NOT to "Let my people go you big jerk!"......but rather,



Undoubtedly Pharoah made things worse than they could have been, what with his continual hardening of his heart. And who knows, perhaps the faith of Israel could have flourished alongside that harsh environment, but it seems to me the greater sin of this arrangement was this: refusing the blessings of service.

While it is clear that their law required sacrifice, feasts, and rituals as a form of service to their God, the Lord has made it abundantly clear the full definition of service to include: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these...ye have done it unto me."

Sometimes the Lord makes us strong enough to bear our burdens, and sometimes he puts on a multi-million-dollar fireworks show to lead us into a new haven in the wilderness. But in both instances, it seems we are not to lose our focus of the importance of reaching outside ourselves, to serve.

Which is why this blog post is over! I've got the littlest people of the kingdom to take care of: fevers to drop, diapers to change, pee-stained sheets to wash, and songs to sing....all of this amidst the undone resolution to be thin and fabulous, among others. Here's to your health and wellness (and mine!) growing grace by grace.

Have the best of days. With love,
Mrs. Olsen
current lover of Moses... though it should be Isaiah, and ideally Shadrach, Mesach, and Abed-nego

I love how this blog makes me look cooler than I am. Or maybe it's helping to get me off the chair and have something to show for myself. It's weird when good friends or sisters make comments with exclamation points (myself included). A show of conversation, but a real reconnection to people you've lost in the shuffle. I like it, I mean, keep 'em comin'. I'm not making fun okay? It's cute. And interesting.

So anyway, maybe since I wrote a sizable resolution list last year on paper, then tucked it away somewhere so I could hang on to it, then promptly lost it, and became forgotten in the blur of 2008...well, maybe having the blog will be good for that. Make me more accountable. Perhaps send some cheerleaders on the way. For what it's worth, here's the positive changes I hope to forge into the aught-nine. My Resolutions:

• Read the "Standard Works"


• For one month, perhaps the summer, experiment with a low-carbon diet. Not Atkins you cotton-headed ninnymuggins.


• Keep up my weekly tango with Ulysses (aka $50-spot every week for groceries, gas, and entertainment) until the Olsen Household has a 3-month reserve in savings.


• Start a video spot for the blah-g. Involving Rainbow Girl. It'll be fun!


• Grow two square watermelons....or square pumpkins.


• I hate to say it....it's so cliche. I really do need to get in shape. But I'll work that out on my own. I'm not airing that dirty laundry on this blog.
• Submit some words somewhere. just for fun.


• Lastly, to accomplish at least two things on this list (I am NOT giving up already, I just don't want undue discouragement getting in the way so early).

Cheers!