Whereas I wrote to some people the other day noting that today is the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2026;

Whereas I read on a substack the other day that the first question Jesus asked was, “What do you want?” And the writer wondered how we would answer that question if Jesus asked us. And then took it a step further to say, when I reach for my phone to scroll, what do I want?;

Whereas I wrote to myself a few months back that one of my projects for the year is “Getting our affairs in order” and I have made glacial yet incremental progress on that project;

Whereas I returned to writing about the Gospel of Mark this year, and stalled. And have thought about writing about individual Psalms, and stalled. And yet have written many words here and at FindingWordsInHardTimes.com;

Whereas there are many small opportunities to be helpful to people each day out of kindness rather than out of obligation, and you and I occasionally fulfil those opportunities; and

Whereas there is evidence that God loves us, and is with us, and isn’t mad at us; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that I will

1. keep living and learning and forgiving and laughing occasionally and do what I can;
2. invite others to keep living and learning and laughing occasionally and do what they can; and
3. act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with our God.